Chapter 3: The Village of Giant Warriors – Elbaf!
The sea breeze blew gently, rustling through the leaves. Snow slipped from the branches and fell to the ground with a soft patter.
Roy led Linlin deeper onto the island.
This was Elbaf—home of the giant warriors—nestled in the waters of the New World.
The New World, the second half of the Grand Line, was unlike the so-called Paradise of the first half. Here, magnetic fields clashed chaotically, the seas were treacherous, and the weather shifted without warning. One day could bring heavy snow, and the next, a clear sky and warming winds.
Strange? Perhaps. But in the New World, such things were the norm.
"Rustle~"
They pressed into a dense forest. Suddenly, a noise stirred from the tall grass ahead.
Roy lifted his loose shirt, revealing a dagger strapped to his waist. He drew it in one smooth motion, the blade gleaming coldly in the dim light.
Living alone had taught him well: survival demanded a weapon at hand.
"Rustle~"
From the grass, a snow-white rabbit poked out its head, nibbling on a few blades of grass. Its dark eyes flicked toward the blade in Roy's grip, the steel glinting with killing intent.
The rabbit froze. The grass no longer tasted sweet.
"Whoosh!"
Roy's arm snapped forward.
"Puff!"
The dagger flashed across the air and pierced clean through, pinning the rabbit to the ground. Its legs twitched twice before falling still, crimson spreading into the snow.
Linlin's eyes went wide. She looked at Roy, admiration sparkling in her gaze.
"Wow! That's amazing!" she exclaimed.
"Rustle!"
But before Roy could answer, the forest shook.
A massive wild boar charged from the shadows, crashing through undergrowth with brute force. Branches snapped, trees quaked, and the beast let out a savage roar as it barreled straight toward them.
"Bang!"
It was enormous—nearly as large as Linlin herself. With a crazed glare, it lowered its head, tusks gleaming, and rushed at Roy.
"Be careful!" Linlin cried. She stepped in front of him, spreading her arms protectively. "Don't even think about hurting Linlin's friend!"
She clapped her hands together—gently, for her.
"Boom!"
The air itself seemed to explode.
The wild boar's body lifted clean off the ground, sent flying backward like a broken doll. Its massive tusks shattered, scattering into the air. The beast slammed into a tree with a thunderous crack—then another, and another—each impact louder than the last.
"Boom, boom, boom…"
The forest trembled as tree after tree fell in its path. By the time the wild boar finally stopped, its head was twisted at an unnatural angle, blood soaking the snow. Its body lay upside down and broken.
Dead. Instantly.
Roy's heart pounded with excitement at the sight.
That strength. Just one casual slap, and a beast the size of a giant had been crushed. And she was only five years old. In a few years, this same girl would topple a giant.
Her talent was… irresistible.
"Ah, I didn't control my strength…" Linlin turned, cheeks pink with embarrassment. Behind her, several trees toppled in ruin, sunlight blocked by her massive frame.
Roy couldn't help but grin, raising a thumb in approval. "Well done, Linlin!"
During this period, Linlin was still very innocent. At most, when hunger overwhelmed her, she would fall into one of her infamous food cravings…
But one day, this same girl would grow into the world-famous Emperor of the Seas—BIG MOM!
For now, however, Linlin was simple to win over. A little praise, some food, and she would call you her friend.
"Hehehe." Linlin cupped her chubby cheeks with both hands and grinned happily.
"Linlin, come help me with this pig and rabbit. We're about to have a feast," Roy said, pointing at the giant boar.
"Okay!" Linlin nodded eagerly.
Not long after—
By a small riverbank, Roy and Linlin worked together. With her strength, the wild boar was quickly handled. Roy cut the meat into thick slices and skewered them over a fire. The rabbit, too, was cleaned and roasted.
Animals in the One Piece world were massive compared to ordinary beasts. Linlin herself was already the size of a giant child, and this boar had been only slightly smaller than her. It was without a doubt the ruler of this forest.
"Zizizizi~"
Fat sizzled over the fire as the meat turned slowly on the spit. Droplets of oil dripped into the flames, sending sparks upward as the aroma filled the air.
Roy sprinkled seasoning from his pocket onto the meat. Traveling alone had taught him to always carry spices—because good food kept morale alive.
"Linlin, you eat first." Roy handed her a skewer of roasted pork.
"Thank you!" Linlin's eyes lit up as she accepted it with both hands, nodding happily.
So cute… Roy thought. This little girl, who would one day become the terrifying BIG MOM, was now so easy to coax. Who would believe that decades later, the same woman feared across the seas had once said "thank you" in such a sweet, innocent way?
[Intimacy with Linlin +5!]
Roy glanced at the system's readout. His intimacy with Linlin had reached 55. Just five more points, and he would unlock her talent card.
"Eat slowly, there's plenty. It's all yours," he said gently while chewing on roasted rabbit.
"Yeah, yeah! Roy is the best!" Linlin answered with her mouth full, nodding enthusiastically.
…
After eating and resting, the two continued their journey.
By afternoon, the sky was clear, the sun warm, and the weather calm. They walked for hours, passing through woods and hills without meeting a single soul. No directions were asked, yet luck guided them.
Soon, the outline of a village rose in the distance.
It wasn't that Roy's eyesight was sharp—this village was simply enormous.
The Village of the Giant Warriors—Elbaf!
At the edge of the settlement, towering figures strode among the trees. Adult giants stood taller than houses, some over ten meters high. Their presence was overwhelming, their steps shaking the ground.
Near the entrance, a giant swordsman lounged casually. He wore a massive helmet and goggles, a fur-lined coat draped over his shoulders, and a greatsword rested at his side as he drank leisurely.
Lifting his gaze, his eyes fell first on the strange little girl in pink, her hair tied in braids. She was as big as a giant child, but something about her was off.
"Hey… whose child is that? Why does she look so strange?" the giant muttered, frowning in confusion.
This was Elbaf, land of the giants. Yet this child, though nearly their size, was unfamiliar to him.
Then another voice rang out.
"Hello, could you tell us where to find the Sheep's House?"
The giant blinked. He lowered his gaze and finally noticed a much smaller figure—an ordinary boy standing beside the strange girl.
"Ohh…" the giant rose to his feet and pointed toward the village. "You mean Mother Carmel's Sheep's House? I'll take you there."