On the castle's high towers, the snow still falls.

Behind the frosty window, Dr. Kureha, who was leaning against the window, looked indifferently at the starry sky gathered below and her beloved disciple Chopper.

The expression on his face is indescribable whether he is happy or sad.

Maybe the endless years have already made her accustomed to parting......

I am also used to it, and I melt my feelings into the wine.

"Goo-dong, goo-dong......"

"Ha ......"

The old man, who held up the rum again, let out a cheerful cry, and said somewhat inexplicably:

"What a bunch, lovely young people! Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee......"

The rum went down his throat again, as if it were enough to hide the tears that had been quietly left behind.

……

……

“…………”

Chopper, who was looking at Luffy, didn't know when, but he closed his eyes tightly, as if he wanted to block something with his thick eyelids.

However, the wet liquid still disobediently trickled down from the corner of his eye and down his face.

Unknown feelings surged in Chopper's heart.

The joy of seeing your kind? It doesn't seem to be ......

Touched by being recognized? It doesn't seem to be ......

This seems to be a kind of that, who has been living in a dry well since birth, and has been buried deep in the wall of the well for many years, but does not dare to explore upwards at all, and the person who walked out of the well was suddenly lifted high by a passing giant.

The whole body is exposed to the wellhead!

Once again, breathe in the fresh air outside and feel the warmth of the sun!

"Wow, ahh!!!h

The pain that had been pent up for many years was all released in this moment.

Nothing is more important to Chopper than being accepted.

And......

He finally learned that he was not alone.

In the world, there are people like him, who come from far and wide to find themselves and invite themselves.

The cry resounded throughout the peak.

But no one felt that he was noisy in any way.

……

……

"Huh? Looks like I'm missing a lot......"

Looking for the breath of everyone, Sauron, who came in a hurry, saw Chopper who was crying bitterly, and said with a smile.

Only Wei Wei, who didn't know the truth, looked blankly at the people who were showing their different abilities, not knowing what was happening.

……

……

This time, Chopper really cried for a long time, like a child, unscrupulously venting his emotions in front of his family.

And Luffy and the others, that is, his family.

Warmth, surrounding Chopper, so that he will not feel a trace of cold on this cold winter island.

After another moment, with everyone's patience, Chopper's tears gradually became smaller, and they went from gushing out to gurgling in a stream.

Chopper, whose eyes were shaking with crystal tears, was a little embarrassed, wiped the tears on his face with his fur, covered his eyes with his arms, and asked in a somewhat frightened tone, as if he was afraid of hearing a negative answer:

"You...... What you say, is it true!? ”

"Hahahaha......"

Luffy laughed directly, looked at Chopper's appearance, and once again gave him a shot in the arm in his heart, and said:

"Of course it's true! We're here for you this time! ”

"Tony Thomney Chopper, Monster...... You're not alone! ”

"You're not alone, you can still have us!"

"Come on, Chopper!

Carry my name! Carry the name of the starry sky!

Let the world see what is - the real monster!! ”

"Starry Sky Pirates—we...... Need you!! ”

"Wow, ah, ah......"

At Luffy's official invitation again, Chopper suddenly cried again.

It's just that this time Luffy suddenly grinned and smiled happily.

Because......

At this time, in his mind, it sounded again, the long-lost system prompt.

【Ding! Congratulations to the host for winning the 8th partner, please enter the partner system as soon as possible and draw exclusive items for the new partner. 】

……

……

"Slag...... Slag, slag! ”

A flock of hungry baby snowbirds have built their nests on the castle gates and made it their new home.

In order for this group of snowbirds to grow successfully and healthily, no matter how bad the weather outside, the gate of this castle is always open.

Chopper led Luffy and his group into the castle, which was full of snow and ice marks.

……

……

"Is it decided?"

In a warmer room, Dr. Kureha looked out the window intently, but as if he saw everything behind him, he suddenly spoke.

Outside the window, there is a white waterfall and snow.

On the window, there is a reflection of the farewell person.

Behind the window, there was a tangled reindeer, and his restless swinging hands and feet.

"Doctor Dorier, I'...... I'm going to be a pirate. ”

"I'm going to go with those guys."

Chopper stood in the doorway and spoke slowly to Dr. Kureha.

"Humph!"

Dr. Kureha lifted the rum in his hand again, took a big sip, and then began to speak:

"Pirates aren't that easy to do, if you're not careful, you might lose your life!"

"That's okay too!"

Chopper suddenly said to Dr. Kureha with an excited face:

"Lady Dorier, they ...... Luffy ...... them

They're amazing! ”

"There are skeletons that can talk, dragons and demons, and long-nosed ...... that can brag."

"They...... They will protect me! ……”

"Fooling around !!!!"

Before Chopper could finish his sentence, Dr. Kureha suddenly slammed the bottle in his hand to the ground, and the broken glass was splashed all over the floor.

Drinks mixed with glass shards slowly flowed to Chopper's feet.

Dr. Kureha turned around in an instant, glared at Chopper and roared loudly:

"What are you a pirate, Chopper, are you playing house!?"

"Since you have decided to go to the sea, your life is in your own hands!!

"You look like that! It will only become a burden to others!! ”

"Doctor Dorier's ......"

Chopper looked at Dr. Dorier, who had lost her temper with him for the first time, and was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Dr. Kureha didn't care if he understood or not, and continued to say to Chopper:

"Do you know who they are!?"

"They have been personally identified by the World Government as the only seven pirates in the entire sea who have the power to plunder freely!"

"In this world, I don't know how many people are staring at their heads!"

"Do you think that a cowardly herbivore creature like you can walk with those wolves, tigers, and beasts!?"

"Do you think they'll choose you as their partner just because you're a monster too?"

"Recognize the reality sooner, Chopper!"

"It's better to stay like you, and be a medical assistant for me, it's better than if you were in a corpse wilderness somewhere in the sea......"

“……………………”

After Dr. Kureha's voice fell, the room suddenly fell silent.

Chopper lowered his head, the thick brim of his hat covering his face, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.

And Dr. Kureha just kept an eye on him.

Time passed slowly, minute by minute, and just like that.

"I got it......"

After a long time, Chopper finally spoke again and said softly:

"I see, Doctor Dorier!"

Chopper, who raised his head, suddenly no longer thought about the expectation and promise in his eyes just now, and a determination called perseverance filled Chopper's eyes.

"I'm not going to give up!"

"I'm going to get stronger, I'm going to keep up with them!

I will be one of their recognition! ”

"I'm a man! I'm going to be the bravest man at sea!! ”

"I'm going to see it! What the outside world looks like!! ”

"I want to be on the sea, as Dr. Hiluluk said, on a large sea, a free gallop!!"

"Doctor Dorier, please...... Rest assured! ”

……

……

The room fell silent for a moment.

It's just that this silence didn't last long

"Hee-hee-hee-hee......

Chopper, you have inherited all my mantle, and on the sea, don't lose my name as Dr. Kureha......"

"Yes, Lady Dorier!!"

……

……

On this day, there was once again one more brave warrior on the sea.

And his name will surely be accompanied by the [Starry Sky Ambition] and resound throughout the world!