Chapter Title: The Winter Witch of Drum
Snow crunched under booted feet as Doma, Hiroshi, and Jozu stood at the edge of a whitewashed town nestled in the icy heart of Drum Island. Behind them, the ship remained anchored off the coast, its crew keeping watch. The blizzard raged, but their mission was clear: find Dr. Kureha.
"So this is Drum Island," Doma muttered, adjusting the scarf around his mouth. "Feels like the snow's trying to bite through my bones."
"It's colder than a Sea King's heart," Hiroshi grumbled. "You sure your contact said she was here, Doma?"
Doma, wrapped in winter garb, nodded. "Yeah. Old lady doctor. Nearly a hundred years old. They call her the 'Winter Witch.' Supposedly she's one of the best medical minds in the New World."
They entered the town, drawing eyes immediately. Outsiders weren't rare here—but pirates traveling openly in such numbers set off alarm bells.
They began asking around—shopkeepers, fishmongers, barkeeps. Most flinched at the mention of Dr. Kureha.
"That crazy hag?" "She's no friend of the king. Lives in the mountains. Don't go looking for her unless you want a scalpel in your throat." "She comes down when she wants. You don't summon her."
The rumors were colorful. Some said she rode a reindeer. Others claimed she could cure anything—at a price. One thing was clear: she wasn't easy to find.
But someone didn't want them finding her at all.
A patrol of royal guards—wearing thick blue coats and white-plumed helmets—cornered them in the square.
"State your purpose, outsiders," the captain demanded, hand resting on the hilt of his saber.
"We're looking for Dr. Kureha," Doma answered coolly. "Not your business."
"Everything on Drum Island is our business. Pirates like you don't just walk into our lands without reason. You're here for it, aren't you?"
"It?" Hiroshi raised an eyebrow. "The hell are you talking about?"
Tension exploded as steel was drawn. Snowflakes turned red. Jozu leapt into the fray, smashing aside men like bowling pins. Doma and Hiroshi flanked him, blades and fists clearing space with practiced ease. The royal guards were trained—but no match for pirates this seasoned.
When the dust settled, the captain lay sprawled in the snow, winded but alive.
"We didn't come for whatever conspiracy you're thinking of," Hiroshi snapped, grabbing him by the collar. "We came for a doctor. That's it."
"We have wounded, and she's the only one in these parts who might know what to do," Doma added. "We're not here to torch your kingdom."
Reluctantly, the captain relented. "Fine. But if you cross the line..."
"We won't," Hiroshi said simply. "We're not Marines. We're not saints either. But we keep our word."
With the tension broken, they were allowed to ascend the mountain trail leading to Kureha's cabin.
It took hours. The snow thickened. Wolves howled in the distance. But eventually, they saw it—a crooked cottage perched on a cliff edge, lit from within by flickering lanternlight.
Jozu knocked once. Then twice.
The door slammed open.
An old woman in a crimson winter cloak stood in the doorway, swigging from a bottle of whiskey. Sharp eyes scanned them.
"You idiots must be freezing. What do you want?"
"Dr. Kureha?" Doma asked.
"No, I'm her granddaughter," she snapped. "Of course I'm Kureha! Speak up, I don't like wasting time."
"We need you," Hiroshi said. "Not for the ship. For something more important."
Her brow arched. "Oh? What could three pirates possibly want from a frail old woman like me?"
"To join us," Doma said. "We're building something. Not just a crew—a future. A family. You're famous. We need the best."
"If you refuse," Hiroshi added, "we're taking you anyway."
Kureha laughed so hard she nearly choked on her drink.
"Try kidnapping me, brat, and I'll remove your liver through your ear."
"Fair enough," Jozu muttered, deadpan.
She stared at them for a moment longer. "You're not lying about your intent. I can smell lies, and you stink of honesty. Alright. I'll come. But only to see what sort of idiots think they can build peace in the New World."
As they prepared to descend the mountain, the royal captain returned with a small envoy. He tensed at seeing Kureha.
"So it's true. You're taking her."
"We're asking her," Hiroshi corrected. "And she agreed."
"We promise she won't be dragged into your war with the Marines," Jozu said. "We're pirates, but we're not dragging innocents into this."
The captain frowned… then gave a slow nod. "Very well. But the moment she's harmed—"
"You'll never see us again," Doma interrupted. "And we'll never give you a reason to regret it."
As they reached the dock, Jozu looked up at the gray sky and asked, "By the way… why is it so damn cold here?"
Kureha smirked. "That, my friend, is a story for another day."
They boarded the ship and sailed off into the snow-drenched horizon—one step closer to building a kingdom in the chaos.
(CHAPTER END)