One Piece: Shadow monarch? I'm Just Logistics!

Chapter 38: Cherry Blossom Rain

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Reiner and Luffy knocked on Chopper's door, waiting outside for a response.

Inside the room, aside from a bed in the corner and wooden bookshelves filled with books, the other walls were lined with tables covered in various medical supplies.

Hearing the knock, Chopper, who was standing on a chair, hesitated for a moment before finally jumping down to open the door.

Creak~

Chopper's eyes widened. "Is there something else you need?"

"Heeheehee."

Luffy grabbed Chopper's two antlers, lifting him up effortlessly, and grinned. "Chopper, come with us! Didn't you say you wanted to be a pirate and go on adventures?"

"I can't... Even though I really want to go out to sea..."

Chopper didn't resist, just spoke with a dejected expression. "I appreciate you inviting me, but... but..."

His voice trailed off intermittently as memories flashed through his mind – countless rejections, countless cold stares.

However, Luffy simply said:

"There aren't that many 'buts'! Pirates are free, you know!"

"What do you humans know!?"

Chopper yelled, swatting Luffy's hands away, his face gradually turning upset.

"You haven't experienced what I've been through! How can you say it so easily!?"

"I... I didn't even do anything wrong! Why was I abandoned by my own kind!?"

"Why was I hurt by humans!?"

"I'm a monster! Look! I have a blue nose! I talk and walk like a human, but I have hooves on my hands!"

He held out his hands, tears welling up in his round eyes and streaming down his furry cheeks. He pulled the brim of his hat down, lowering his head and sobbing quietly:

"I don't look like a reindeer at all, and I don't look like a human either..."

"I don't even look like a pirate..."

"A monster like me...! How can I be nakama with humans...?"

Silence filled the room. Luffy's usual playful expression vanished, replaced by seriousness. He walked forward and said:

"Sorry, Chopper..."

"I really haven't had experiences like yours... it's hard for me to truly empathize..."

"But look! I'm a monster too, Chopper!"

"Monsters can be pirates too! Who cares what other people say? Pirates are just that free! Right, Reiner?"

As he spoke, Luffy grinned, stretching his cheeks out wide.

Reiner also cooperatively transformed into his hybrid human-beast form and smiled.

"Yeah, monsters are most welcome on our ship."

Unexpectedly, Chopper, who had been weeping bitterly, was utterly horrified by their transformations.

"MONSTERS!!!"

Seeing the two before him, Chopper's eyes bulged, his jaw literally dropped to the floor. He let out a piercing scream, his little short legs spinning like pinwheels as he tried to bolt outside.

"HELP ME, DOCTOREEN!!!"

Reiner: "..."

Are you being polite right now?

"Heeheehee."

Each grabbing an antler, they lifted Chopper, who was desperately trying to escape.

"So, come be our nakama, Chopper," they said in unison.

After struggling for a while, Chopper finally gave up. He turned to look at them, noticing the earnestness in their eyes – exactly like Dr. Hiriluk's expression back then.

As if seeking confirmation, yet also craving acceptance, Chopper asked in a low voice:

"Do you really... really want to accept me?"

"Of course! Don't ask that kind of question again, Chopper."

Reiner reverted from his transformed state, picked Chopper up, and sat him on his shoulders. Chopper's hooves rested on Reiner's golden hair.

"Let's go tell Dr. Kureha."

Outside the castle, the three sat together in the snow. Reiner held a cigarette between his lips, staring blankly and boredly at the sky.

Chopper needed to say a proper goodbye to Dr. Kureha and pack his things. After retrieving Zoro, Reiner and Luffy had come out here to wait.

Next stop, Alabasta. Reiner considered his assets: about ten Seastone bullets, two pairs of Seastone handcuffs, and the Armament Haki-wielding Blue Ogre and Red Ogre.

Shouldn't be any major screw-ups, right? Reiner thought.

"So while I was unconscious, this tanuki became our nakama?" Zoro tilted his head, pointing towards the small figure emerging from the castle.

"I'M A REINDEER, DAMN IT!" Chopper yelled, baring his teeth.

"Meh~ Whatever. Anyway, you're the doctor, right?"

Picking up his three swords from the ground, Zoro stood up and bent down slightly to examine Chopper. "Having a ship's doctor will certainly make us more reliable."

Hearing this, Chopper's expression instantly changed. He wiggled his backside, looking shy.

"Stop it~ Complimenting me like that won't make me happy, you jerk~"

"Such quick changes. What a strange guy."

To Zoro, Reiner mused silently, the strange part wasn't the talking reindeer, but the speed of its mood swings.

"Alright, it's about time we got going."

"Follow me. I'll carry you guys down."

Reiner and Luffy patted the snow off their pants and stood up, following Chopper to a cable car station. Chopper didn't go inside, instead transforming into his reindeer form and pulling over a sleigh.

"Woahahaha! Transformation!"

Luffy exclaimed, eyes sparkling. Seeing the setup, Chopper apparently intended to pull them down using the cable lines. "You can even pull a sled! You're so cool, Chopper!"

"Thank goodness we don't have to jump straight down."

Stepping onto the sleigh, Zoro smirked faintly. "I was wondering if we'd have to gamble on whether our lives were tough enough."

Hearing this, Reiner sucked in a sharp breath. So you mean... you didn't even think about how to get down? You just climbed straight up without a plan!?

Chopper looked at Zoro with surprise and admiration: This green-haired guy talks so coolly! Is this what pirates are like?

Unexpectedly, on his very first day, Zoro had gained a little fanboy.

The sky was darkening now; it was dusk. There was no snow, and the setting sun cast an orange-red glimmer across the snow-and-ice-covered winter island, making it sparkle brilliantly.

"Hey, look! What's that?"

"Something's flying in the sky!"

In the distant Big Horn Village, several villagers looked towards the sunset. The light was still somewhat blinding, forcing them to shield their eyes. After a long moment, their eyes slowly adjusted.

Against the fiery red sunset, several dark silhouettes could vaguely be seen, leaping down from the mountain high above.

"Woohoo~~ Take off~~"

The villagers looked at each other, their blank expressions seeming to seek mutual confirmation.

"I must be seeing things."

"I thought I heard someone shouting up there."

By the coast of Drum Island, the Going Merry was moored on the icy sea surface. Under the afternoon sun, some of the floating ice had melted.

Smoke drifted from the second-floor living area's chimney, carrying an enticing aroma; Sanji had already started cooking.

"We're back, everyone!"

"Everyone come look! Our new nakama!"

Hearing the voices, the crew members came outside. Besides the three familiar figures, there was now a small, adorable pet with them.

It wore a red hat with a white 'X' mark, stood upright on its brown fur, and carried a small blue backpack.

"Our nakama is a tanuki?"

"Luffy, keeping pets on board is a lot of trouble."

"I don't know how to make cat food, hey!"

"I'M NOT A TANUKI, DAMN IT!" Chopper immediately flared up, waving his hooves and pointing at his head, roaring, "I'M A REINDEER! SEE, I HAVE ANTLERS!"

"The tanuki talked!!!"

"I TOLD YOU, I'M NOT A TANUKI!!!"

"He's a reindeer who ate a Devil Fruit."

Jumping onto the ship, Reiner explained with a smile, "Don't underestimate him. Chopper's medical skills are amazing. From now on, he's our ship's doctor."

"Eh! That's incredible!"

"And so cute!"

Chopper blushed again, putting on his typical 'I'm totally not pleased by the compliment' stubborn face. "Stop it~ Even if you praise me, I won't be happy, you jerk~"

Classic. Absolutely classic, Reiner sighed inwardly.

After returning to the ship, Reiner went into the first-floor storage room to inventory and categorize the supplies. He summoned undead to organize and arrange everything properly, then recalled them and raised the anchor, preparing to leave.

The sun had already half-sunk below the horizon, and snow began to fall again. Dancing snowflakes soon covered the entire island.

It was at this moment that a huge sound echoed from Drum Island.

BOOM!!!

The deafening noise caught everyone's attention, and they all looked towards the island.

High above the central, cylindrical mountain peaks, a cloud of smoke suddenly exploded outwards, rapidly expanding and instantly dyeing the surrounding falling snow pink.

With the towering mountain peak as the trunk, cherry blossoms bloomed, covering the imaginary tree in brilliant color. The pale setting sun slanted across the scene, illuminating the graceful, quiet beauty of pink and white romance.

Chopper stood at the railing, gazing blankly up at the cherry blossom rain blooming over this winter island. He pressed his lips together firmly, tears quietly streaming down his face.

"Dr. Hiriluk..."

"I will definitely become a doctor who can cure any disease..."

"I will become your panacea!"

♧♧♧

-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE

-> FOR EVERY 100 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER

♧♧♧

-> 15 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!

-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais

(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)

If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you