"Sorry… I didn't mean to scare you."
Gern withdrew his Conqueror's Haki, and the oppressive pressure that had frozen the air finally dissipated, allowing the world to breathe again.
He glanced around and immediately noticed Wanda and Pedro standing stiff as statues—pupils constricted, fur standing on end, their breathing shallow and cautious.
The Mink farther away looked even worse. Some had gone pale as sheets, while others had to cling to one another just to stay standing.
"Uh…" Gern scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Did I… maybe go a little overboard?"
Lipo was the only one who hadn't been completely frozen in place, though she'd clearly been shaken by the aura he released. She blinked once, ears twitching, then suddenly snapped back to herself and grabbed Gern's arm, shaking it excitedly.
"Gern! What was that just now?! That was amazing! Teach me! I wanna learn it too!"
Gern gave a helpless smile."That one… really can't be taught."
Meanwhile, the still-shaken Wanda and Pedro finally began to recover. They exchanged glances and instinctively took a small step back.
"P-Pedro…" Wanda whispered, her tail curling tightly around her leg. "That just now… he knocked out those Steel-Tusk Beasts with just his eyes, didn't he?"
"Y-Yeah…" Pedro swallowed hard, his grip tightening around his short blade. "I've heard Boss Nekomamushi talk about warriors like that—people who can overpower others just with their presence… but seeing it in person…"
Gern noticed their unease and sighed softly. He crouched down to their level, deliberately softening his tone.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. That was Conqueror's Haki—it wasn't directed at you."
"C-Conqueror's… Haki?" Pedro repeated, tasting the unfamiliar words. Fear lingered in his eyes, but so did awe.
"Mm." Gern smiled gently. "You don't need to be afraid. I'd never use it on my friends."
Wanda cautiously lifted her gaze to meet his."You… you really won't hurt us?"
"Of course not." Gern spread his hands lightly. "I'm a hero of justice, remember?"
"That's right!!" Lipo immediately jumped in, nodding vigorously. "Gern's a good guy!"
Seeing her carefree expression, Wanda and Pedro finally relaxed a little—though the memory of that overwhelming pressure had already burned itself into their minds.
Not long after, word began to spread.
The tale of how Gern made carrots leap from the soil—and how he felled three Steel-Tusk Beasts with a single glance—spread like wildfire throughout Crescent Moon Village.
Before long, the entire Mokomo Dukedom knew:
A terrifyingly powerful human had arrived in Crescent Moon Village.
Several Days Later
At the edge of the village, beside Lipo's small home.
The warm glow of the setting sun bathed the wooden roof in gold.
Gern stood at the edge of the field, watching as Lipo waved her arms wildly in front of her carrot patch, trying to mimic his movements.
"Rise! Rise! Rise!"She shouted with all her might, ears flopping energetically with each motion.
The carrots did not move.
"Why isn't it working?!" Lipo stomped her foot in frustration, then spun around to face Gern, her pink eyes full of grievance."Gern, you didn't lie to me, did you?!"
"I didn't," Gern said with a laugh, walking over and gently patting her head."I told you—this ability comes from my Devil Fruit. You can't learn it."
"Devil Fruit?" Lipo tilted her head in confusion.
"Something you eat that gives you special powers," Gern explained. "Though the downside is… you can't swim anymore."
"Ohhh."Lipo tapped her chin thoughtfully."So that's why every time you take a bath, you end up looking like that ninety-year-old goat grandpa—totally worn out?"
"…Yeah, that's—wait."Gern froze mid-sentence. "Lipo… how do you know what I look like when I'm bathing?"
"Uh…" She whistled innocently. "I guessed."
"Lipo—"
"Okay, okay!" Her face flushed pink."I was just curious! I mean, you're a human, and you don't have fur like us, so I wanted to see… So I climbed outside and jumped up and peeked through the window and—"
She suddenly grinned mischievously.
"But I did confirm one thing! You're not completely—"
"STOP."Gern vanished in a blur and clamped a hand over her mouth."That part does not need to be said!"
"Mmgh—okay!" Lipo nodded obediently once he released her."So… you were going to teach me something, right?"
"I can't teach you how to make carrots fly," Gern said with a grin, "but I can teach you something even stronger."
"Stronger?!" Lipo bounced excitedly. "What is it?!"
"Armament Haki."Gern raised his hand, and a deep black sheen instantly coated his palm."It strengthens your body and your attacks."
Lipo's eyes sparkled as she stared at his hand."I want to learn! I want to learn!"
"I can teach you… but—" Gern deliberately dragged out the word, a sly smile forming."You'll have to become my partner first."
"Aren't I already?" Lipo blinked.
"You…" Her innocent answer caught him off guard. "You're not even going to ask what being a partner means?"
"Nope!" She struck the same over-the-top heroic pose she'd done the first day they met."Because Gern is… a hero of justice!"
Gern burst out laughing. He extended his hand toward her."Then from today on, you're my partner."
Lipo grinned brightly and slapped his hand in a high-five."Yep! Lipo and Gern are partners!"
At the moment their palms met, Lipo felt something strange.
She looked down.
In her hand sat a small cherry-like fruit, its surface glowing faintly green and covered in swirling patterns.
"Huh?"She turned it curiously under the fading sunlight."Gern, what's this? Did you give it to me just now?"
Gern's expression turned serious. He gently took her wrist and lifted the fruit between them.
"Lipo… this is a Devil Fruit."
"Eh?!" Her eyes widened, ears standing straight up."The one you were talking about earlier…?"
"Yes." Gern nodded slowly, a mysterious smile forming."This one is special. If you eat it, you'll gain the power to heal anything."
He paused deliberately.
"But… you'll become unable to swim. Just like me."
Lipo's hands trembled slightly as she stared at the glowing fruit.
Then she suddenly looked up at him, her eyes shining.
"That means… if you ever get hurt, I can heal you myself—even if I don't know medicine, right?"
Gern froze.
He hadn't expected that answer.
The warm light of the setting sun bathed her earnest face, outlining her white fur in gold.
"…You silly rabbit," he muttered softly, reaching out to ruffle her head."Shouldn't you be thinking about yourself first?"
"But you're a hero," Lipo puffed out her cheeks."Heroes always charge in first!"
She looked away, muttering,"Like with the Steel-Tusk Beasts… you could've waited for everyone else…"
"Alright, alright." Gern sighed helplessly."But think carefully. Once you eat it, you'll never be able to swim again. For a Mink, that's…"
"I don't know how that's different from carrots!"
Without hesitation, Lipo bit into the fruit.
The next second—
Her face turned green.
"Ugh—!! What is this taste?! Gern, you—!"
Watching her gag while clutching the tree, Gern doubled over laughing.
"Gern… you knew it tasted like that, didn't you…" she muttered weakly.
Then suddenly—
A strange warmth surged through her body.
She froze, staring at her hands as a soft green glow bloomed from her palms.
"Huh…?"
She blinked in confusion, staring down at the light.
"My hands… they're glowing…"