Chapter 61: Injuries Upon Injuries, Reindeer Chopper.
"A strange ceiling."
When Roman opened his eyes, that was his first thought. Then he turned his head to look:
This was a single room, and Roman was lying on a bed. Next to him was a bookshelf filled with books, and there was a fireplace on the wall, though it wasn't lit. On one side of the table were a bunch of medical instruments, bandages, and gauze...
Good, it's land, which means Nami is safe.
If you ask how Roman knew this was land—an unmoving bed was the best proof.
On a ship, there's always movement, which can become second nature to the body. So many sailors stagger when they first get off a ship because their bodies are used to the rocking, and standing on solid ground makes them sway.
Before I passed out...
Roman closed his eyes, carefully recalling the feeling of his vision—or rather, his mind—being carried by the 'rainbow.' In the next moment, even though he was still lying on the bed with his eyes closed, he 'saw' everything around him!
This is—
Suppressing his inner excitement, Roman controlled this new 'vision' to look around. It wasn't like the experience with paper cranes, but a kind of vision that could zoom in and out at will! Although it wasn't as clear as his physical eyes, it still made Roman very happy!
I've made it, I've made it...
Observation Haki!
Mehahaha, I can't believe I finally 'leveled up'! Not only did I successfully find Drum Kingdom, but I also unlocked Observation Haki! Mehahahaha~~
Ahem, keep calm
I need to manage my expressions. After all, I'm a dignified transmigrator, representing the face of billions of people on Earth...
Now, let me check the other rooms—
Roman shifted his consciousness and 'passed through' the wall to see the empty room next door. As he 'passed through' several rooms, he quickly arrived in a warm room where a girl was sitting on the bed:
It's Nami!
Even though Roman's current ability couldn't make the 'image' very clear, he couldn't mistake that familiar aura and figure. As Roman focused his newly acquired Observation Haki on Nami, it immediately penetrated the blanket and clothes, and then:
Ahem, ahem, ahem,
Wise man once said: Do not look at what is improper...
Mom also said: your eyes will swell up...
But the person next to her is—
Ah!
My eyes~~
Roman, who had been enthusiastically testing his new ability, suddenly froze, as if someone had thrown a flashbang at him. If Nami's 'life flame' was like a candle in his eyes, the figure next to her was a 500-watt light bulb, almost blinding Roman.
This... this is...?
This is Drum Kingdom, right?
This is where we recruit Chopper, right?
Then this stranger should be... Chopper's mentor... what's her name again?
Roman rubbed his dazzled eyes, only remembering that she kept emphasizing she wasn't 150 years old, stayed calm throughout the Wapol arc, and now Roman accidentally discovered she was a super expert!
A top expert under 150 years old... terrifying! Considering the timeline, could she be from the Rock ship?
I accidentally discovered her secret, she won't kill me to silence me, right?
She shouldn't...
She shouldn't...
——————
On the other side, Nami, who was bargaining with a fashionably dressed old lady, actually Dr. Kureha, to get 'discharged' early, shivered as if something had licked her skin.
"Just now..."
Nami, hugging her arms, looked around in confusion, unsure if it was a hallucination from recovering from a serious illness.
But, that familiar feeling just now was...
"Hehe,"
Leaning against the door to stop Nami from leaving, Dr. Kureha discreetly glanced in the direction of Roman's room and casually asked Nami.
"The boy who came with you—the one with the deadpan face and deep sorrow, who is he?"
Ah this...
Even the clever Nami didn't react for a moment. But:
"Could it be Roman?"
"Oh? Tell me about this boy named Roman..."
---
"Ahhh, life has no meaning anymore."
Lying on the bed, Roman rubbed his stinging eyes. He had just acquired Observation Haki, and a casual glance almost blinded him. Tears flowed down his face. Could this pirate world be any more frustrating? How was he supposed to survive...
Wait a minute!
Roman belatedly placed his hand in front of his eyes. Instead of the familiar 'paper', he saw real medical bandages.
"Hmm, it's been a while since I've seen real medical supplies. Speaking of which—"
Roman lifted the blanket, revealing:
"Give me a big sword, and I could cosplay as Zabuza, right?"
Roman was now wrapped in bandages from head to toe, like a mummy, or someone with a severe case of chuunibyou. As he moved, sharp pains shot through his ribs, arms, and thighs, making him raise an eyebrow.
"Shouldn't I have passed out from overusing my Devil Fruit powers?"
Such damage to the body—bleeding from the orifices, blood gushing out, even shortening his lifespan—was understandable. But:
"These bone fractures, muscle strains, and scaly skin injuries..."
It felt like he had been dragged—
"Help!!!"
?
"Meat, stop! Meat~~"
??
"Wait, Luffy! Let me handle this."
???
Amidst the unfamiliar, shrill cries, Luffy and Sanji's familiar voices could be heard.
"What a big piece of venison!"
"Perfect to help Nami recover~~"
What were those two up to again?!
And Sanji, you used to be reliable. How did Luffy manage to corrupt you...
Thud,
Slam!
As Roman was feeling a headache, the door to his room suddenly burst open. A furry creature ran in, quickly turned, and shut the door, panting and looking terrified.
"Huff, huff, huff, scary humans..."
It was a... no, a talking, upright... reindeer. Wearing a pink hat and brown shorts. After being chased by Luffy and Sanji, its fur was puffed up in fright.
"Seems like they left—?"
The footsteps outside had faded away, allowing the furry little guy to breathe a sigh of relief and sit down against the door. Then:
He locked eyes with Roman on the bed.
"Ahem, hello—"
Whoosh!
The little reindeer suddenly jumped up and hid behind the bookshelf, with only half its head peeking out, the rest of its body fully exposed. Its cautious 'secret observation' made Roman want to laugh.
"Is this the legendary 'head in the sand'?"
What a sight...
"Y-your injuries!"
"Ah, my injuries are fine."
Roman nodded friendly at the reindeer—no one would be hostile to a doctor.
"Did you treat and bandage me? Thanks."
!
"Humans... how could humans possibly thank me, you fool!"
The little reindeer twisted and turned, showing a joyful expression that contradicted his words.
"Even if you thank me, I won't be happy! Idiot—"
...
That's right, it's definitely Chopper. But:
"Hello, my name is Roman."
"Torkovich-Roman."
Chopper, hiding behind the bookshelf, stared at Roman in shock as he extended his hand.
"You're... you're not afraid of me?"
"Afraid?"
Roman touched his chin and asked back.
"Are you my enemy?"
"No,"
"Are you stronger than me?"
"...Uh, no..."
"Then that's settled." Roman spread his hands, "You're neither my enemy nor strong enough to be beyond my imagination. Why would I be afraid of you?"
"But... but I'm... a blue-nosed reindeer..."
"Everyone else... is afraid of me, calling me a wild man, a monster..."
Facing Chopper's stammering words, Roman waved his hand indifferently.
"That's just because they lack knowledge."
"Humans are like that, they fear the unknown, and from fear comes hatred, and from hatred comes destruction. Then from destruction, fear is born again..." The Big Pineapple Brothers' ability to suppress other demons is not without reason.
"But if you understand, many things are not surprising at all."
Rustle—
Roman opened his palm, and sheets of white paper flew out, forming a 'fist' in mid-air.
"Devil Fruits are just rare items that ordinary people might never see in their lifetime. But:"
"In the vast sea, Devil Fruit users are as common as carp crossing the river. Especially in the second half of the Grand Line, the 'New World,' where Devil Fruit users are everywhere, ordinary Haki is as common as dogs, and only Conqueror's Haki can stand out..."
Roman controlled the 'paper hand' in the air to point at the little reindeer, "In the New World, there's a country called 'Zou,' where many 'people' like you live."
"They call themselves the 'Mink Tribe,' walking upright with two Feet, able to speak and think. There are rabbit girls, fox ladies, goat doctors, leopard swordsmen, and so on... You're no different from them."
The paper hand in the air spread its palms.
"Of course, they are born that way, while you ate a Devil Fruit."
Roman's words made the little reindeer's eyes sparkle! He looked at Roman with admiration, hoping to hear more new things from him, especially:
Roman didn't care about his appearance or race, treating him as an 'ordinary person.'
"Roman, can you..."
"By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet."
"I'm Chopper, Tony Tony Chopper—"
Bang!
Just as the atmosphere was perfect, the door was suddenly kicked open, and two figures rushed in!
"Meat!"
"Whole reindeer feast~~"
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