Arceus's Pirate Journey

Chapter 1102: Chapter 1087: Inescapable Calamity, Kuzan’s Observations (2)

”Got it! Miss Yamato, freeze the two of them. That way, they should return to normal once the effects wear off.”

”I don’t want to.”

”Now’s not the time to throw a tantrum! It’s better for the two of them, or else it’ll be very harmful to their bodies!”

Seeing the two had completely entered the Moon Lion state and had already started attacking, Queen continued to urge Yamato, but Yamato still had no intention of acting. Left with no choice, Queen turned to Kuzan.

”Hey Kuzan, you’re the Ice-Ice Fruit User, right? Hurry, freeze those two!”

”I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

It’s clear there’s a problem with something Yamato doesn’t want to do; the Fur Race within the Hundred Beasts is famously known only for Zeraora. Kuzan guessed that’s his child, so he didn’t want to get involved.

And right at this moment, Yamato finally brought out a bell from her bag.

”Found it, the Soothe Bell. I remembered that godfather gave me this.”

Yamato wouldn’t just watch them go berserk. If really out of options, she could only choose to use Ice Seal to deal with the crisis, but with the tool, it was different.

As the harmonious sound of the Soothe Bell spread, Miaona and Wolf, caught in the Moon Lion’s fury, began to calm down, though the mode seemed to have taken a considerable toll on their spirits as they both fell asleep.

”Phew, my lady, next time tell me if you have tools. Had me scared for ages.”

”Don’t mind such things, Uncle Queen. Now I’ll give you two choices: First, I’ll tell Sister Setsuna and Zeraora about this, have them chat with you.”

Yamato spoke dangerous words in a plain tone. If blasted out, Queen might become a target and get hit for several days.

”Cough cough, what’s the second choice?”

”The second? Simple, I’ll beat you on their behalf, and that’s it.”

Aken 7.0 appeared in Yamato’s hand. Weighing her weapon, Yamato seemed to be pondering where it would feel better to hit.

”...I don’t want to choose either! Suddenly remembered I had things to do in the lab, I’m out.”

Queen turned to leave, but before he even stepped out, he found his feet frozen, a chill already spreading from Yamato’s feet to his body.

”My lady... what do you intend to do?”

”Hehehe, isn’t it obvious, Uncle Queen? I find that that bastard old man’s logic isn’t quite wrong. Sometimes, fighting solves most issues.

Since you didn’t choose either, I’ll assume you chose both, and this is the consequence of trying to take me down with you back then!”

On his first official day of joining, Kuzan experienced the Hundred Beasts’ corporate culture and became curious about Queen’s abilities. He seemed even more mysterious than outsiders.

”I suddenly remembered, Sakazuki once complained about your strong Haki after that mission ended. So that’s how you trained your Haki? Sure looks tough.”

”Quit the sarcasm there! Ow! Miss Yamato, you’re serious! I can fight back, you know!”

”Bring it on! We haven’t practiced for ages, haven’t we? Perfect chance to let you experience my skills!”

Kuzan silently withdrew to the side. Besides the ongoing situation, Empoleon’s camel transformation gave him many thoughts, but cherishing the present, he didn’t dwell on it too much or interfere with Yamato and Queen’s battle. Instead, he went to experience Wano Kuni’s hot springs.

It’s also a famed feature of Wano Kuni; you can see many hot spring ads on the street, fueling his recent interest—perfect time to try them out.

...

”Young man, are you new to the Hundred Beasts? Never seen you before.”

In the hot spring, an old man looked at Kuzan’s missing leg, asking in curiosity.

”Yes, just got here today. Heard the hot springs were great, so came to try them.”

”What a pity, such a fine lad. Your leg’s been gone a while, hasn’t it? If you could still find the severed limb, it might be reattached.”

He referred to the Healing Spring atop the Holy Mountain, though it can only repair, not resurrect lost limbs. That would require Arceus’s intervention.

Many elderly love to chatter a bit more. Seeing Kuzan’s interest, the senior proceeded with the Holy Mountain tale, like how insincere ones get bounced off halfway but reaching the summit rewards blessings.

”Really that magical? That’s indeed remarkable then.”

”Indeed, look at me, over eighty, still hale and hearty. It’s all thanks to this. Wano Kuni back then wasn’t this good... Speaking of which, couldn’t find your severed leg?”

”Nope, probably burned to ashes.”

”A fire then? That’s truly unfortunate...”

”No worries, I’ve long come to terms with it, and I have my ways.”

With that, Kuzan refroze his own fake leg using ice, but as he reentered the hot spring, it vanished.

”So you are a Demon Mage, huh? Really handy ability.”

”Grandpa, teacher said he’s a Devil Fruit User, not a Demon Mage.”

”Same, all the same, said it like that for decades.”

The Hundred Beasts’ school allowed Wano Kuni’s youth to connect with the outside world, understanding Ryuo is called Armament and Demon Mages are actually Ability Users, but elders clung to the old terms.

Even if corrected by their grandchildren, after a while, they’d return to it. Breaking long-standing habits wasn’t easy and not fearing uncommon foreign races was already a great leap.

”But aren’t you worried? There’s fighting outside.”

Even within the hot springs, Kuzan sensed the commotion outside, loud enough for average folks to hear.

”No problem, it’s just the Ghost Princess and Queen dueling. They both know their limits, it’ll end soon.”

Kuzan chatted with the folks in the hot springs until the fight concluded, learning about Wano Kuni from residents and leaving with newfound understanding of Yamato’s abilities.

To cause muscle soreness yet leave no physical injuries, achieving such skill must take a ton of effort.

”Feeling refreshed, Uncle Queen, good luck from here. Kuzan’s yours to settle with; you sort his accommodation.”

Stretching a bit, Yamato felt utterly relaxed before sheathed her weapon, heading to the women’s bath.

”Your everyday life sure is unique.”

”Quit the sarcasm, just wait; you’ll eventually enjoy such treatment too. Mwahaha!”

Yamato pulled her punches with finesse, Queen wasn’t really hurt. Remembering Yamato’s initial scheme, he even got the mood to taunt Kuzan a bit, using this way to lift his spirits.

Today’s events were within his expectations, only delayed too long. He didn’t foresee Yamato’s revenge effort to stall this long.

”You sure are diligent, already on duty post-beating?”

”You just don’t understand, she didn’t mean it. Such bruises sting at most half a day, and it might even be a good thing.”

Queen spoke in cryptic terms, then proceeded to arrange housing for Kuzan.

Meanwhile, Miaona and Wolf had been taken back to Kuri, entrusted to others before Yamato took action.

Once the dust settled, the two woke up, and Setsuna and Zeraora’s Rotom received the news.

”Damn that Queen, how can he mess up things like this?!”

”Probably wasn’t intentional...”

”I know it wasn’t intentional, or else I’d have charged up ages ago! Zeraora, this time you’re not standing up for him!”

”I know, it’s indeed his fault this time, so how do you plan to resolve it? Miss Yamato’s already given him quite a beating.”

”Since he’s already been beaten, let’s keep track of it for later. This bastard inadvertently initiated Miaona and Wolf into the Moon Lion. Maybe take this chance to teach them to master it.”

Yamato’s beating saved Queen from Setsuna’s wrath a bit, sparing him a furious, spousal mixture assault, something Queen was frankly thrilled about.

The differing experiences from restrained and unrestrained actions were worlds apart. Deciding to teach Moon Lion, both Setsuna and Zeraora pondered over who’d be the perfect teacher.....