In the fireplace, the newly added dry firewood crackled, the leaping flames dispelling the chill seeping through the cracks in the doors and windows.
After adding the firewood, Dalton straightened up, his gaze falling on Nami's flushed face. He reached out to feel her forehead, his expression growing even more grave.
"Her body temperature..." Dalton's voice carried an unbelievable heaviness, "is probably over forty degrees."
"To be precise, it's close to forty-two degrees," Vivi said, tightly holding Nami's hand. "It's been fluctuating like this since three days ago in Little Garden..."
"This can't go on.A drop of sweat began to trickle down Dalton's cheek as he looked at the tricky situation before him. "If the temperature rises any higher, this young lady will die."
Vivi also felt helpless and could only say to Dalton beside her:
"But... we don't know what illness she has, nor how to treat it... There's no doctor on our ship..."
"What about the Witch Doctor you mentioned earlier!" Sanji suddenly turned around, grabbing Dalton's arm and speaking urgently. "That Witch Doctor you just mentioned! Quickly, get her to save Miss Nami!"
Dalton remained silent for a moment, freed his arm from Sanji's grip, walked to the window, and pointed toward the snow-covered barrel-shaped peaks outside.
"The Witch Doctor... do you see those mountains? Those are the Iron Barrel Mountains."
Then his finger moved to the tallest one in the center, where a castle was faintly visible, and he said, "Do you see that castle on the mountaintop?"
At that moment, the wooden door was pushed open, and Luffy and Usopp, covered in snow, ran in with playful grins, calling out to Giyu: "Wow! Giyu! Building snowmen outside is super fun!"
Luffy, holding a small snowman, shouted excitedly, but upon seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, his smile faded, and he began to listen to what Dalton was saying next.
Ignoring their interruption, Dalton continued leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the distant castle outside the window, his tone somewhat somber: "That used to be the king's castle, but the king is no longer there. And the doctor I just mentioned, known here as the Witch Doctor, Dr. Kureha, lives in that castle."
"Living in a place like that?!" Sanji's cigarette nearly fell from his mouth as he pointed at the distant peaks. "You've got to be kidding! How are we supposed to ask her to come here?! Miss Nami is in such danger right now!"
Hearing Sanji's words, Dalton could only shake his head helplessly and sigh:
"I want to hurry too, but... there's no way to contact her directly. I admit her medical skills are truly exceptional, and it's said she's lived nearly one hundred and forty years, but her personality... is very eccentric."
Giyu, who had been silently listening on the sidelines, now spoke up and asked, "If someone in this country gets sick, what do they do?"
"She sometimes comes down the mountain to make rounds."
Dalton explained: "But we have no certainty about the timing. And... she has a habit of taking everything she fancies with her."
Luffy and Usopp had now gathered by the fireplace to warm up, drinking hot tea. Luffy puffed out his cheeks and said, "Wow! Isn't that just like a robber! What a nasty old lady!"
Beside him, Usopp also took a sip of tea and chimed in: "Exactly! And she actually lives in such a scary castle!"
Dalton didn't refute them, merely continuing on his own: "There are even stranger rumors about her. Some say that on nights with a full moon, she descends from the sky riding a sleigh. Many claim to have witnessed it with their own eyes... This is also one of the origins of her title as the Witch Doctor."
He paused, lowering his voice slightly as he went on: "And there are those who say... she lives with a bizarre animal no one has ever seen."
"B-bizarre animal?!" Usopp's teacup clattered to the floor as he began rolling around in terror, "Aaaaaah! It must be the Snow Monster! Definitely a giant white Snow Monster! We're doomed, aaaaaah!!"
Watching Usopp's overreaction, Dalton sighed heavily and steered the conversation back to Nami's condition: "You mentioned earlier there's a doctor on the island... but the truth is, the only doctor would probably be that Witch Doctor in the castle."
"Dammit! That Baroque Works woman!" Usopp scrambled up from the floor, pounding the ground angrily with his fists, "She was lying to us after all! She directed us to an island where we can't possibly find a doctor!"
Just then, perhaps disturbed by the noise in the room, Nami let out a weak moan and slowly opened her eyes.
"Nami!" Vivi exclaimed, quickly leaning over her.
Seeing this, Luffy immediately crowded by the bedside, waving his hand back and forth in front of Nami's eyes: "Nami! Nami! You're awake!"
Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, taking a while to recognize that the person before her was Luffy. Her voice was frail as she said: "Luffy... what's happening..."
"Listen to this!" Luffy's loud voice echoed notably in the small wooden cabin as he declared to Nami:
"That doctor lives way up on that tall mountain! We have to climb up to find her! I'll carry you up on my back! That's the fastest way!"
Luffy's clearly unreliable suggestion was immediately opposed by Sanji: "Idiot! How do you expect Miss Nami to go up there? It's freezing outside, and the mountain path is so steep!"
"Just carry her up!" Luffy gestured, mimicking carrying Nami on his back, "It's better than just waiting around here!"
Vivi, her face full of worry, looked out the window at the towering snow-capped mountain and said to Luffy, who was still demonstrating: "It's too dangerous! Nami still has a high fever. What if she falls from the jostling on the way, or her condition worsens? That mountain is so high..."
Nami's gaze slowly shifted to Vivi. She remembered the heavy burden on Vivi's shoulders, the people of Alabasta waiting to be saved.
An invisible strength supported her, allowing her weak hand to lift slightly. Gasping for breath, she spoke to Luffy in broken but clear words:
"Please... Luffy..."
Luffy was taken aback for a moment, then a huge grin spread across his face as he gave Nami's palm a firm slap: "No problem! Leave it to me!"
"Then I'm coming too!" Seeing that Nami had agreed to the plan, Sanji immediately stepped up beside Luffy without hesitation.
Usopp rushed in front of Luffy, gesturing nervously: "Luffy! Listen to me! Absolutely! Absolutely do not let Nami fall! Even a single jolt could be too much for her in her current state! Understand?!"
Luffy was startled by Usopp's expression, a drop of sweat trickling down his cheek as he nodded with rare seriousness. "Huh? Is... is that so? I understand!"
Without further hesitation, everyone immediately sprang into action.
They found sturdy ropes and securely fastened Nami to Luffy's back, ensuring she wouldn't slip off. She was wrapped up tightly, only her pale little face visible.
"Can you hear me, Nami!" Luffy turned his head sideways, grinning as he called out to his companion on his back. "Hold on tight!"
Nami lay against his back, weakly but firmly responding, "Mhm..."
Watching the three of them about to set off, Dalton reminded them from the side, pointing in two different directions. "There are two paths up the mountain now. One is relatively safe but will take a longer detour from your current position. The other is a straight shot from here but goes through an area inhabited by Lapahn—giant carnivorous rabbits that are extremely ferocious. You must be careful. If you encounter them, it'll be trouble."
Luffy and Sanji exchanged glances.
"Rabbits?" Luffy tilted his head, then flashed a fearless grin. "We're in a hurry. Who cares about them? Right, Sanji?"
Sanji, cigarette in mouth, narrowed his eyes sharply. "Yeah, anyone who gets in our way will get kicked flying."
Without further farewells, the two dashed out of the warm wooden cabin, charging resolutely toward the distant, tallest snow-capped mountain. Their figures were soon swallowed by the swirling snowflakes.
Vivi rushed to the doorway, watching their disappearing direction with deep concern.
"Giyu," she turned back to look at Giyu, who had been silently standing by the door. "Aren't you going with them to check it out?"
Giyu withdrew his gaze from the window, settling it on Vivi and Usopp beside her. "No need." He shook his head, his voice calm. "Besides, I think my body is fine enough."
His final gaze fell upon the man before him named Dalton, who claimed he would protect the island.
Luffy and Sanji have both left...
If the friendliness of these people before me is just a facade, like at Whiskey Peak... then I must stay behind. At the very least, I need to ensure Vivi and Usopp's safety.
[Manual of Interpersonal Relationships (Trial Version)]
[Subject: Dalton]
[Status: Neutral]
[Interests: Resisting external enemies, Communication]
[Suggestion: You're overthinking it]
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