"Wahhhh! Don't eat me!" Chopper screamed, his limbs flailing as he transformed into his Human-Beast form, his little hooves waving in the air.
"Come with us, Chopper," Luffy said, squinting his eyes. "Our ship is missing a monster like you."
"How can you phrase it like that?" Nami rolled her eyes, stepping forward and pulling Luffy's cheek hard to stretch it. She said to Chopper, "You can understand it this way: there probably aren't many 'normal' people on our ship to begin with."
She counted mentally. They all seemed like abnormal people.
Chopper was dumbstruck by Luffy's direct invitation. Immense joy and deep-rooted inferiority tangled together, making him stammer incoherently.
"B-but, I-I c-can't! I'm a monster... and Doctorine needs my help."
"Cut the crap, Chopper," Kureha said, undermining him. "Get going already. Let me have some peace and quiet."
Chopper:
"..."
Seeing Chopper's reaction, Luffy already understood.
If it was a sickness of the heart, then it needed medicine for the heart.
Chopper didn't believe the ship had monsters? Then he'd show him.
There were other monsters here besides himself.
He could still manifest one Nika.
He decided to add more fuel to the fire.
This kind of unreserved acceptance reminded Chopper of Dr. Hiriluk.
"I, I..." Chopper mumbled, shrinking his head into his shoulders.
"Then let's meet the new nakama first."
Luffy closed his eyes, concentrating.
"I choose you, Nika."
With a crisp sound, Nika inside him opened its eyes.
[Nika Affinity: 60%]
White, steam-like energy rapidly spread from Luffy's body. It was now visible to the eye.
Then, under the astonished gazes of Nami and Kureha, Nika emerged.
"Wahaha! Ni is finally out!"
An excited, slightly haughty voice rang out.
The white flaming clouds began to coalesce into shape, forming a white tanuki.
A genuine tanuki.
In the past, Nika believed its purpose for existing was to overthrow the Nefertari family—it was the will of the fruit. It never imagined it could one day emerge from that sunless place.
It greedily breathed in the cold air, savoring the long-lost sense of freedom.
"A monster!" Chopper shrieked.
"What is this? A tanuki?" Both Nami and Kureha curiously leaned closer.
Nika's form and method of appearance were far too unusual.
Nika, currently feeling smug, instinctively tried to put on airs.
"Hmph. Mere mortals."
"Meeting me is your honor."
Nika thought Luffy was still easy to handle.
"Straw Hat, if you want my help in battle, it's not impossible. But first, you must properly revere me, Nika."
"For example, fine wine, and delicious meat..."
It clearly hadn't grasped its current situation, thinking it could negotiate terms now that it was out.
Luffy had anticipated this.
He trusted his nakama unconditionally, but Nika was, at most, a tenant right now—and a rather unruly one at that.
With a thought, a strand of the white flaming clouds surrounding him separated, like a living rope, swiftly wrapping around Nika's neck, forming a delicate white collar.
"Gah!"
Nika immediately felt a fundamental, suppressive force. The sense of freedom it had just gained vanished instantly. Its body grew weak and powerless, as if it might dissipate at any moment.
It looked at Luffy in terror, its crimson eyes filled with disbelief.
"Straw Hat! What did you do to Ni?!"
It was under control.
The whole process was incredibly smooth.
Nika struggled but to no avail. It wasn't even time for the final showdown of awakening yet, why was this happening?
"Want to go back?" Luffy stared at Nika, smiling.
That smile sent a chill down Nika's spine.
Seriously?!
No wonder he agreed so happily. He was setting a trap here all along!
Nika felt deceived. It had initially chosen Luffy precisely because of his carefree personality—kindly called a pure heart, less kindly called a single-minded blockhead.
With a collar around its neck, it was like a domesticated cat-girl, only able to meow and expose its belly for petting.
Meow when hungry, or no food.
The seemingly carefree Straw Hat walked over, grabbed the white collar like picking up a kitten, and lifted the weakened Nika in front of Chopper, introducing it.
"See? I told you we have plenty of interesting things on our ship."
Nika bared its teeth.
Luffy smacked it lightly on the head, and its eyes instantly cleared.
"This is also a nakama on our ship. Though it's a bit disobedient for now."
"Is this a tanuki?!" Chopper curiously moved closer, sniffing Nika with his nose.
The originally humiliated Nika, hearing this, couldn't help but lift its head, sizing up Chopper, and habitually retorted,
"Who are you calling a tanuki? Aren't you a tanuki too? A weird tanuki with a blue nose."
"I'm a reindeer, you jerk! Look clearly, I have antlers!" Chopper puffed up angrily, reverting to his beast form and pointing at his small antlers in protest.
Meanwhile, Nami stepped forward and tugged at Luffy's shirt hem. She was suspicious of the suddenly appearing Nika. How does he always come up with these random things? She couldn't help but ask,
"Hey, Luffy. Where did you 'get' this Nika from, anyway?"
She felt a bit embarrassed to say it.
Nika, emerging all white from Luffy's body, reminded her of some... not-so-easy-to-mention memories.
Her gaze shifted suspiciously between Luffy and Nika.
A talking tanuki, while rare, wasn't that unbelievable—there was Chopper right next to them. But Luffy's "found it" excuse was too flimsy.
Hearing this, Nika quickly and nervously made eye signals at Luffy.
Its life and freedom were now in Luffy's hands. The truth about being the will of a Devil Fruit was an absolute secret that must not be exposed.
Luffy received Nika's signal. Though he didn't see why it couldn't be said, he went along with Nami's assumption.
"Mhm. Found it."
Nami facepalmed in exasperation. "At least come up with a believable excuse!"
This world was full of wonders, but casually producing a talking tanuki from one's body, which could then be controlled by a strange collar... that was too much of a coincidence.
Nami's gaze grew sharper, sweeping between Luffy and Nika. "Are you two hiding some secret from me?"
Nika panicked, afraid Luffy would slip up or that Nami would investigate further.
In its urgency, it blurted out, "I know your secret too!"
The moment the words left its mouth, it regretted them.
Almost instantly, in Nika's eyes, Nami's image seemed to swell into a demonic spirit with black smoke billowing from her back and horns sprouting from her forehead.
Nami wore a smile so kindly it was bone-chilling. She stepped forward and practically took Nika from Luffy's hand.
"Oh, my secret? It seems we need to have a good chat, Nika~"
Without waiting for Nika's struggle, Nami grabbed the newly-arrived troublemaker and headed for a corner.
Prepared to have an in-depth discussion about ship rules and what should or shouldn't be said.
***
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