Chapter 118: The Beautiful Swordswoman Arrives with Meat [65K]

"It's too late."

Robin chuckled softly, "Don't be so afraid; we mean no harm. Didn't we just save you?"

"I didn't need your saving, humans!"

Clinging tightly to the tree trunk, the little reindeer gritted his teeth, "I... I'm a monster! Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Where do you look like a monster? You seem like a perfectly normal tanuki," Robin observed curiously.

"I'm a reindeer!!"

"Ah, my apologies." Robin smiled warmly, "But regardless, you're quite cute; how could anyone be afraid?"

"C-cute?!"

The little reindeer instantly flew into a rage, baring his fangs as he roared, "I'm not cute! I'm a fierce monster!"

Then suddenly his small face turned crimson, trembling with shyness like noodles, "Oh my, even if you praise me like that, I won't be happy!"

"Ah, no, I'm a monster, the kind that eats people!"

He jolted awake, baring his teeth and making a grotesque face, but due to excessive nervousness, accidentally bit his own tongue, letting out a painful "Oww—" as tears welled up in his eyes while he clutched his mouth.

Robin pressed her forehead.

"Mm-hmm, understood, a man-eating monster."

Siano merely nodded perfunctorily; noticing Chopper's emaciated belly, he squatted down, fished a red bean bun from his pocket, split it open with a casual motion, and shook it, "Here, you must be hungry. Want some?"

A rich, sweet aroma wafted out.

Chopper's gaze was instantly drawn to it, his eyes widening into perfect circles, his mouth unconsciously opening slightly in rhythm with the bun's swaying.

It's sweets!

I love sweets the most, the most, the most!

And after running all this way gathering herbs, I'm really hungry, but...

"I-I won't eat it!"

He sharply turned his head away, yet his hoof involuntarily stretched forward, "Don't try to tempt me! I'm a fierce monster! How could a monster eat human food!"

"Is that so? Then never mind."

Siano shrugged, making as if to withdraw the offer, "I originally intended to ask where Dr. Kureha is, but it seems I'll have to find her myself..."

"Wait!"

Chopper panicked, darting forward in a single leap before braking abruptly, eyeing him warily, "W-what do you want with Dr. Kureha?"

"To get treated."

Siano shrugged, no longer suppressing the virus within his body; instantly his entire form turned green and purple, "See? Poisoned. I heard all the doctors on this island were expelled, leaving only that old lady, so..."

"Don't call Mother Kureha an old lady!"

Chopper instantly bristled with anger, but then hesitated, stealing a glance at Siano's complexion before asking worriedly:

"... Is it very serious?"

"It's manageable; I won't die," Siano said cheerfully, "But if it isn't cured, my body might remain like this forever."

Chopper stared at him for several seconds, then suddenly snatched the red bean bun, stuffed it into his mouth, and mumbled indistinctly, "... Follow me!"

Having spoken, he turned and ran toward the forest edge, taking two steps before looking back to add ferociously, "B-but if you dare harm Mother, I really will bite!"

"Rest assured."

Siano followed with a beaming smile, handing over another red bean bun, "If we harbored ill intentions toward Dr. Kureha, why would we have helped chase away those soldiers earlier?"

That is true...

Chopper felt slightly reassured, continuing to lead the way while eating, leaving behind a trail of small hoofprints on the snow resembling plum blossoms.

Robin sighed, "Captain, you certainly have a way with children."

"Can't be helped; I've been practicing since childhood."

Siano shrugged, leading Robin along as he added casually, "Though mainly, it's because this little fellow is too kind-hearted; even toward distrusting stranger humans, he still wishes to do his utmost to save them because they are patients."

The wind and snow were heavy; he made no effort to lower his voice, and Chopper, who had quietly pricked up his ears, heard every word clearly.

What strange humans...

Not only are they unafraid of me, but they also praise me so generously.

Hehe, so I possess such shining qualities?

The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl upward, a flush rising to his face, though he quickly reverted to a stern expression.

... Even so, I won't be happy!

————

In the blink of an eye, the two humans and one reindeer had crossed the entire town.

The wind and snow were fierce, and they traveled quickly; midway, Siano stopped only briefly at a clothing store to purchase winter attire for Robin.

As captain, Siano had originally intended to pay for this himself, treating it as a welcome gift for his new crewmate.

Alas, all the Berri he had carried previously had been burned to nothing by Akainu, leaving not even a single hair behind.

In the end, Robin had to pay herself.

After leaving the town and entering the forest on the opposite riverbank, winding through seven twists and eight turns, they suddenly spotted lights glowing at the entrance of a treehouse in the distance.

"We'll arrive soon; that is Mother Kureha's home. Just remember one thing: although Mother is quite old, she maintains a maiden's mindset and hates being called old, so..."

Chopper suddenly fell silent, his footsteps coming to an abrupt halt.

Siano looked up, only to find that their commotion had disturbed a nearby herd of reindeer; spotting Chopper from afar, each immediately emitted hostile low bellows.

It seemed as though the very next second, they would charge straight at Chopper.

However, wary of the two tall humans present, after pacing in place for a moment, they ultimately turned and departed.

Watching the retreating figures of the reindeer, Chopper's face immediately clouded with gloom.

"..."

It lowered its head, its blue nose twitching, its voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "... They don't like me."

"Why? Just because of your blue nose?" Rarely did the little one voluntarily open up, so Robin immediately jumped in to ask.

"Mm..."

Chopper's voice dropped even lower, "Since I was very small, I've stopped looking like a reindeer and don't look like a human either... Everyone said I was a monster. Later, when I learned to read and recognize characters, I realized that I had accidentally eaten the legendary Devil Fruit, which is why I turned into this disgusting form..."

So it was a Devil Fruit?

Robin finally understood; all along this journey, she had been pondering whether this little reindeer was truly part of the Fur Tribe and exactly why it had ended up here...

"To be precise, it is the Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit."

Siano suddenly spoke up: "Because of this fruit, you've suffered many hardships and endured much bitterness, right?"

Chopper nodded subconsciously.

"I can roughly guess the specific details."

Siano squatted down, stroking Chopper's head, his voice gentle, "Rejected by your herd while in reindeer form, then driven away by humans after turning into human shape... Such double loneliness must be incredibly painful, yes?"

His palm was warm and strong, causing Chopper to unconsciously relax its tense body.

"But hey, little one."

Siano looked straight into those wet, big eyes, "This pain is neither the fruit's fault, nor is it your fault at all; the fault lies with those narrow-minded gazes, with the ignorant prejudices on this isolated Winter Island."

"Do you know? Out on the great sea, Devil Fruits are treasures countless people dream of obtaining; that you received such a gift proves you are a lucky child favored by fate—many people would be envious and jealous beyond measure..."

He suddenly burst into loud laughter:

"Of course, although I don't know what effect eating the Human-Human Fruit would have on an ordinary person, but anyway..."

He poked Chopper's forehead.

"Look at you now; if you were just an ordinary reindeer, would I have said so much to it? Even if I did, it wouldn't understand at all, right? You can feel joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness; you can understand human emotions; you can even follow along and learn how to treat illnesses and save lives, to pursue your own dreams... Aren't all these gifts brought to you by the fruit?"

Chopper stared blankly upward, meeting Siano's grinning gaze.

—In those eyes there was no pity, no hypocritical comfort, and certainly no fear, only pure appreciation and sincerity.

Just like... just like the way Doctor Hiriluk used to look at him when he was still alive.

"A lucky child favored by fate?"

Chopper repeated the phrase softly, lowering its head and unconsciously rubbing its hooves against the snow, "Me... me? A monster like me, do I really deserve such a description?"

"Why are you still viewing yourself as a monster, Bai Chi!"

Siano pinched Chopper's cheeks, forcibly lifting its line of sight upward: "In the end, you're just able to transform back and forth between human and deer; what's so amazing about that!"

"If that makes someone a monster, then on my ship, there's a whole pile of such monsters: ones who can turn into smoke, into flames, discharge lightning, and there's one who just joined recently, look..."

He turned his head.

Robin smiled gently and, at the perfect moment, raised her hand to activate her ability.

Instantly, rows upon rows of arms sprouted 'swish' from behind her head and all over her body, startling the little reindeer so much it jumped up with a "Waaah!"

"There's a monster!!" Chopper hid behind Siano, watching Robin in terror.

"I'm one too!"

A sinister laugh came from above; Chopper looked up in confusion to find that the big brother who had just been smiling so kindly and warmly had, at some point, transformed into a four-meter-tall muscular freak.

"... Ah, ah..."

Chopper's mouth hung wide open, its whole body shaking violently as if it were about to faint any second.

"Don't scare it too badly," Robin reminded.

"Got it, got it."

Siano's voice suddenly returned to normal; with a soft 'pu' sound, he instantly transformed back into his original delicate youthful appearance.

"See? It's all fake~"

He cheerfully spread his hands, "It's just a little trick of Life Return; how about it, don't you now feel that your own abilities aren't such a big deal?"

Chopper stared blankly at this fellow who kept transforming back and forth, its blue nose twitching as its eyes gradually turned red.

It turned its head to look at Robin—that elegant lady was retracting her extra arms and even gave it a gentle wink.

At this moment, the grievances accumulated over many years suddenly burst forth like a breached dam, tears rolling down like pearls whose string had been cut.

"Wu... wuwu..."

The little reindeer's hooves tightly clutched the medicine basket, its whole body trembling uncontrollably.

It wanted to say something, but could only emit broken sobs.

So... so I really am not a monster? So in this world, besides those two kind doctors, there really are others willing to treat me with such gentleness?

Siano squatted down and gently rubbed its furry head: "What are you crying for, little one?"

With that rub, Chopper cried even harder, tears soaking the fur on its chest; like a child who had suffered endless grievances and finally found reliance, it buried its head straight into Siano's embrace, smearing snot and tears all over the other's clothes.

"Wuwaaah—!!!"

It wailed loudly, as if trying to cry out all the loneliness, fear, and unwillingness of these past years; so this is how warm the feeling of being accepted feels, so this is how sweet the taste of being understood is...

Robin smiled gently from the side.

Meanwhile, Siano helplessly patted its back: "Hey hey, you've smeared snot all over me... Alright, alright, I know you're very happy..."

Hiriluk and Kureha just didn't handle this aspect properly enough; look how aggrieved they've made the little reindeer, not knowing to help untangle its emotional knot sooner.

But apparently, there was no other way.

After all, those two were ordinary humans, completely unable to demonstrate personally like he and Robin could.

"Do you feel a sense of shared suffering?"

Siano looked up at Robin and snorted, "What a pity I didn't notice the toxin on my face yesterday; otherwise, I would have definitely made you cry a bout like this too."

"..." Robin shook her head helplessly.

Was it because we were gradually getting familiar that you started running your mouth wildly? Or should I really not have brought up that matter back then? Before that atmosphere was ruined, the captain actually cared quite a bit about his image...

Sharing the same plight and feeling compassion for each other?

Chopper vaguely heard this sentence, looked up with eager eyes, and asked, "Big brother, so you were also bullied by people and called a monster just like me back then?"

Huh?

Siano was stunned for a moment; had this little guy misunderstood?

Has anyone ever called me a monster?

Siano tilted his head and actually took the time to recall carefully.

Many scenes, already somewhat blurry, flashed through his mind one by one.

""Bad news! That monster is chasing us!!" The terrifying figure dragging Arlong's corpse rapidly approached, while the fish-men let out piercing shrieks, "What are you waiting for, run quickly!""

"Boom! With a sharp reverse kick, Garp's body slammed violently against the cliff, shaking the entire mountain with a dull thud. The old man looked utterly astonished, "What kind of monster are you!""

""Cough..." Crocodile struggled to roll over, covered in blood and filth, "Even this can't stop you? What kind of monster are you, exactly...""

Snap.

The flashback ended.

So I really have been cursed as a monster that many times. For a moment, Siano suddenly felt a touch of sorrow:

"It really is so. Back then, I indeed had an experience quite similar to yours."

Robin pressed her forehead again.

Boo-hoo... Chopper immediately hugged Siano even tighter.

Big brother is truly a super warm and wonderful person. Even though he suffered greater grievances himself, he doesn't mind at all and even turns around to comfort me...

If only I could become someone this great someday!

"Alright, we moved on from it long ago. You should have moved on from it by now too."

Siano gently patted Chopper's back, but from the corner of his eye, he noticed a figure flashing past near the treehouse in the distance.

Is that Kureha?

No, that damn old hag has been peeking there for quite some time, hasn't she? Just watching me here coaxing this child for you, and she doesn't even take the initiative to come out and welcome us!

He stood up, walked to the treehouse door, knocked boom-boom-boom on the wooden door, and shouted loudly:

"Hey, old hag, stop hiding sneakily. It's time to open the door and entertain guests. The Beautiful Swordmaster has brought meat!"

"Who are you calling an old hag, you rude brat!"

Amid furious shouts, the wooden door opened, and a foot flew straight at him. Siano caught it easily, and the two of them fought boom-boom-boom in the background, kicking up snow everywhere.

"Big sister, so you are a Swordmaster after all," Chopper wiped his tear stains and asked Robin in a small voice.

"No," Robin smiled gently. "The captain's sentence was meant to be read as separate parts."

So it was 'Beautiful', 'Swordmaster', and 'Meat'?

Chopper suddenly realized the truth, but then his expression froze: "Eh?"

————

The highest Shanfeng on Drum Island has an altitude of fully five thousand meters.

At the peak of this highest Shanfeng sits a massive castle; this is where the Wang Zuo of the Drum Kingdom is located.

Outside, wind and snow raged, but inside the castle, it was as warm as spring.

"F-f-five hundred and forty million Berries?!"

Wapol, fat as a ball, was lying on the Wang Zuo, chewing voraciously on gold-plated tableware. Upon hearing the soldier's report, metal fragments immediately clattered out of his wide-open mouth.

"Are you sure you didn't see wrong? That great pirate named Siano has really come to our country?!"

"It is absolutely certain, Your Majesty!"

The one-armed squad leader knelt on the ground, wailing, "Just look at my wrist! That guy's title of 'Blade Swordmaster' is truly well-deserved! His sword strikes so fast they can't be seen clearly; with just one casual slash..."

"Shut up!"

Wapol suddenly flew into a rage, overturning the dining table, and paced back and forth anxiously before the Wang Zuo, his metal boots making the ground boom-boom with every step:

"Damn it! Damn it! Why would a figure of such caliber target our tiny nation!"

"Your Majesty!"

The trusted minister Chess rushed forward urgently. "The most pressing matter is to strengthen the castle's defenses! We cannot be careless. I heard that even when a Marine Admiral personally went out, he still couldn't..."

"Defenses? Defend my ass!"

Wapol slapped him across the face. "Bai Chi! Do you think a pirate of this caliber will be as easy to deal with as those quack doctors?"

"Go!"

He spun around sharply and pointed out the window. "Prepare immediately to depart for the port! Everyone, follow me; we all set out together, flee to the sea, hide for a while, and return only when this island is no longer in danger!"

"Eh?!"

Several ministers were all dumbfounded.

"What are you standing there gawking for? Weapons, food, doctors... take everything you can carry! Do not leave anything for these lowly commoners. Hurry up and do it!! Within one hour, everyone must assemble at the castle gate!"

Only then did the soldiers wake up; they scrambled into action, and the entire hall became a chaotic mess.

When only a few of his most trusted ministers remained in the hall, Wapol suddenly turned around, swallowed the Wang Zuo beneath his buttocks in one gulp, and then kicked open the hidden door behind the Wang Zuo.

"That guy must be coming for the treasure I've accumulated! Muahahaha... Fortunately, I prepared for this long ago!"

He rushed into the treasury within the hidden door. His bulky body bounced like a rubber ball among the gold and silver treasures, all the way opening his modified iron-plated big mouth to frantically devour the mountains of gold coins and jewels piled high.

"Your Majesty!" Chess clung to the doorframe and shouted in terror, "Are you planning to eat the entire national treasury?"

"Muahahaha! Of course!"

Wapol roared indistinctly while eating, "Laozi's Munch-Munch Fruit can digest even a castle; what are these mere treasures! Once we reach the sea, I'll spit them out again; not a single coin will be missing!"

In no time at all, the entire national treasury was swallowed clean by him.

"Your Majesty!"

Dalton, captain of the Royal Guard, could finally bear it no longer; his burly frame blocked the castle gate:

"You cannot simply abandon your people and flee! As king, even if we cannot defeat the invading pirates, you should at least help your citizens—"

"Get out of my way!"

Wapol, his face a mask of impatience, slapped him casually:

"Months ago, when that quack doctor died, you already defied me once; wasn't the time I threw you into the dungeon enough? And now you dare stop me?"

Dalton staggered back several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet he stubbornly spread his arms wide:

"Please, at least leave half the doctors behind! You have already expelled all the kingdom's physicians; if you take even the last twenty doctors away..."

"What do I care!"

Wapol grinned viciously, lifted his boot, and kicked Dalton hard in the stomach.

"Do the lives of commoners deserve to be compared with my health? Hey, Chess and Kuromarimo! Teach this insubordinate fool a proper lesson!"

【Left: Chief Advisor Chess; Right: Kingdom Administrator Kuromarimo】

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Chess and Kuromarimo immediately set upon him with fists and feet; even though Dalton instantly transformed into his bison form, he still could not withstand them.

He groaned dullly and fell to his knees, vision darkening, forced to watch helplessly as Wapol's figure strode out through the castle gate.

In his daze, he still heard the fawning voice of that one-armed squad leader:

"Your Majesty is wise! Anyone who cannot distinguish between the weight of a commoner and your own importance—such an ungrateful traitor deserves to be severely..."

"You shut up too!"

Wapol suddenly turned, seized the squad leader by the throat, and hoisted him up. "Useless trash! With so many men under your command, you couldn't even catch a blue-nosed monster, leaving me still unable to capture that old hag Kureha!"

"Y-Your Majesty..." the squad leader kicked his legs in terror.

"Take your broken arm and die!"

Wapol flung him toward the cliff as if discarding trash. "What use is a good-for-nothing who can't even hold a gun? My ship does not feed useless things!"

"Aaaah—!!!"

The shriek tore through the wind and snow, gradually fading into the abyss.

The soldiers, silent as cicadas in winter, quietly hastened their movements, escorting large quantities of food and weapons as they followed Wapol onto the cable car descending the mountain.

Stop, all of you...

Please stop...

Dalton exerted every ounce of strength but still could not rise; in his blurred peripheral vision, those figures grew ever more distant, and overwhelmed by grief and rage, tears streamed from his eyes.

Abandoning the country and leading the escape was one thing, but to refuse to leave even a single doctor or a single weapon for the people...

This hopeless, rotten king!

————

"Muahahaha!!!"

At the port, Wapol stood on the deck, patting his belly, swollen like a ball, and laughed wildly.

Inside it lay the wealth of an entire kingdom; even drifting across the seas, it would suffice for his extravagance for a long time!

"Hurry, move faster!"

Chess and Kuromarimo constantly urged the soldiers to load the cargo.

Suddenly, a doctor in uniform halted, looking around perplexed: "Did anyone else hear something?"

A sound?

The deck fell instantly silent.

Everyone strained their ears; amidst the howling wind and snow, there indeed mingled a peculiar noise, approaching rapidly from afar—

Boom—Crack!

"It's coming from the sky; look up!" someone cried out in alarm.

This time, including Wapol and the two ministers, all raised their heads.

They saw a massive black silhouette descending from the heavens at astonishing speed; each rebound was accompanied by a sonic boom, as if space itself were being compressed and released by some force.

"What is that thing?!" Wapol shouted in terror.

The black shadow finally slowed, landing lightly on the shore opposite the deck; as the wind-whipped snow gradually dispersed, its true form was revealed.

—It was a man of extraordinary height.

Clad in black, wearing a fluffy bear-eared hat, and holding a thick Bible, he stood six or seven meters tall, burly as a mountain, yet radiating a gentle tranquility.

"As expected of a great medical nation, isn't it?"

Seeing the pile of uniformed doctors on the ship, the burly man seemed greatly pleased; he lowered his head and offered Wapol a friendly smile:

"To arrive at the port and immediately encounter so many doctors is truly wonderful."

(End of Chapter)