73 73. The Trolls

A little while ago.

"Hehehe. His protagonist's aura can't be underestimated. He'd only been left alone for a while and got himself into trouble." Izumi chuckled. Who else if not Luffy? Kazuma wasn't with them, so it was most likely Luffy's doing.

"That rascal is always making trouble everywhere." Kuroneko just sighed.

Izumi shrugged his shoulders.

"He's not Luffy if he doesn't cause trouble wherever he is."

"True. It seems that if Luffy goes on a mission in the future, you will have to go with him."

"Why me? Well, never mind. Let's find out what happened!" Izumi used his Devil Fruit power to fly. Then go to the place where the commotion came from.

Kuroneko nodded, but then.

"Wait, wait! What should I do with this griffon?"

"I'll leave it to you!" Izumi replied from a distance.

"Hey, wait! Tch, this bastard always does as he pleases." Kuroneko stomped her right foot to the ground.

Kuroneko turned toward the griffon.

"Hey, bring me to that guy!"

"Kraaa." The griffon turned its head as if to reject Kuroneko.

Annoyed, Kuroneko took out her divine sword while pointing at the griffon threateningly. Suddenly, the griffon trembled at the powerful aura of the sword.

"Humph."

Kuroneko immediately jumped onto the griffon's back, then ordered to chase after Izumi.

— — — —

Izumi stopped. He floated in the air while looking down where he saw Luffy starting to fight against someone. However, the enemy seemed buried under the destroyed buildings.

"Hmmm… Who is Luffy fighting against?" Izumi asked himself.

Then, he realized that there were 3 girls behind him.

"Oh, Luffy saves girls who are in a pinch? It's so cliché."

Izumi didn't come down right away and just observed first. As soon as he used Haki, he sensed the aura of someone deliberately hiding to observe their fight.

When many people started to gather near where Luffy was, the black-haired girl warned them that there was a strong demon and told them to leave.

"Oh, so there's a demon, huh?"

It was when the big fat demon emerged from the rubble, everyone started to run away.

At the same time, Kuroneko came riding the griffon.

"Miyamura, what happened?" She asked.

"Hmmm, you're late. Look, it's a demon." Izumi pointed.

"Eh, why are there girls behind Luffy? Don't tell me…"

Izumi turned to Kuroneko while smiling. Then, he replied.

"Well, it's like what you're thinking."

"For real?"

Then, they saw the troll using a binding spell. Unfortunately, Luffy's inflating body destroyed the spell.

Previously, the troll didn't see clearly how Luffy could stretch his arm to do a punch. But then, he was dumbfounded by Luffy when he saw his body that was inflated like a balloon.

Luffy hit the troll so hard that the troll was thrown far back.

At that moment, another troll appeared and whispered to the troll who was hit by Luffy.

All of sudden, they prepared to flee. But, Izumi suddenly shouted at them.

"Why are you in a hurry? Since you showed up and caused trouble! You'd better stay!"

The two trolls turned their gazes toward the voice. They were at a loss for words when they saw Izumi floating in the air.

"Oh, Izumi, Neko, Washi!" Luffy waved his hand toward Izumi, Kuroneko, and the griffon.

"Luffy, tell me what's going on!" Izumi asked while putting his hands on his hips.

Luffy pointed at the trolls.

"Izumi, Izumi. He is so cool. He can transform into that form! Can I transform like him?"

Izumi didn't really understand what Luffy was saying because he hadn't seen the troll's form before.

"What the hell are you saying? If you want to transform, I can help you."

"Really." Luffy tried to confirm with his shining eyes.

Izumi nodded.

"Yeah. I'll call Tabane later to give you her cell. But after that, you won't be able to eat the meat you like. Forever."

"Ehhhh. Then, I refuse."

What Izumi offered was of course a Ghoul. But he said things that made Luffy would not agree.

Suddenly Izumi narrowed his eyes while waving his left hand.

*Slash* *Bang*

Izumi sent a slash of wind in front of the two trolls who wanted to escape.

"Where are you running?" Izumi smirked at them.

Those trolls didn't reply. But, they stared at Izumi cautiously.

Izumi asked once again.

"Then, what are you, demons, playing around in this little town? Are you bored because there are no toys at your place? Or are you looking for your mother to suckle?"

Those trolls glared at Izumi. They were so furious with what Izumi said. However, their instincts told them that they should leave as soon as possible.

Meanwhile.

"So, your name is Luffy?" Lia, the black-haired girl asked Luffy.

"Yep." Luffy nodded.

"How did he fly? I don't remember any magic that can make people fly. And you're weird too. How come your body stretches like rubber?"

"We didn't use magic. Both Izumi and I have Devil Fruit powers. Izumi is a wind human and I'm a rubber human."

"Devil Fruits? A wind human? A rubber human? Something like a spirit?" Lia got more and more confused by what Luffy said. When she wanted to ask again, Kuroneko appeared while kicking Luffy.

"What the heck! Don't babble on things you shouldn't!" Kuroneko muttered.

"Ouch. Why did you have to kick me?" Luffy turned to Kuroneko. But then, Kuroneko grabbed his collar. She said in a low voice.

"I should be the one asking. Why do you have to say you're a rubber human? You even told them about Miyamura."

When she saw Kuroneko who was so close to Luffy, Lia was intrigued. She wanted to know who she was.

At that moment, Kuroneko turned to her and looked at her closely.

"Weird… Your facial features… There's no mistaking it, you're Japanese."

Lia's face was so familiar to Kuroneko. That's why she thought like that. Lia herself realized that Kuroneko's facial features were similar to hers. And hearing Kuroneko said "Japanese", she became curious.

"Japanese? Did you—"

"Kuroneko, Luffy."

Before Lia could finish her question, she heard Izumi calling out to Kuroneko and Luffy.

"I'll throw them out of the town. You two will follow me afterward!"

Then, Izumi flew over to the two trolls slowly. Those trolls immediately prepare their huge mace and guard up against Izumi.

Lia shouted at Izumi.

"Hey, be careful! Two of them are strong!"

Izumi waved his hand, signaling that he would be fine.

"Who are you!??" The red troll, Daniel, asked him warily.

Izumi wiggled his index finger.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should properly introduce yourself first before asking the other."

Veins popped up from his bald head.

"I'm Daniel!" The red troll replied.

Meanwhile, the green troll silently observed Izumi's expression.

Izumi said nothing but nodded.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Because of the silence, Daniel shouted.

"Oy, say something!!!" Daniel pointed his mace at Izumi.

Izumi put his hands in his pockets while replying.

"Why should I?"

Daniel angrily dashed toward him because he couldn't stand Izumi's behavior.

Daniel swung his mace precisely at Izumi's head.

*Bang*

The ground around shook from the impact of Daniel's mace. And Izumi's head, which was hit by the mace, disappeared. To be precise, his head scattered into the wind.

"Hehehe. You act strong, but with one hit you're dead." Daniel smirked.

On the other hand, Lia and her two friends screamed. Then Lia said to Luffy.

"L-Luffy, your friend is—"

"Ah, he is alright. Just look!"

Izumi reshaped his head once again. People other than Izumi's party were dumbfounded. Their eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out.

Izumi swiftly moved in front of Daniel. Then, he created an air blast to send him flying out of the town. He also did the same to the other troll.

After that, Izumi flew to catch up with them while saying to Luffy and Kuroneko.

"Let's go!"

Luffy jumped onto the griffon's back.

"Hey, Luffy!! Don't leave me alone!!" Kuroneko shouted at Luffy when he was about to go.

Luffy stretched out his hand and grabbed Kuroneko. She creeped out when Luffy's hand wrapped around her body all of sudden.

After she had gotten on the griffon's back. She chopped Luffy's head while saying.

"Can you be gentle with a girl? Don't just suddenly make a move like that!" Kuroneko was so angry with how insensitive he was.

"Why are you always angry?" Luffy firmly replied to Kuroneko's words.

"It's because you're so annoying."

"You're also annoying, Neko!"

"What did you say? What did you say to me?"

The two of them started bickering while being carried off by the griffon.