The Anguish of Fascination with a "Demon"

The Marine Captain fascinated with the cute demon

This is the story of a Marine officer. Their name will be kept secret.

They do have an epithet. "Benevolent King of the Wavefront" ─many of his subordinates and colleagues called him that.

He had thick, dark eyebrows that looked as if they had been painted on and his eyes were sharp and angry looking. Under that appearance filled with dignity and vigor, was a muscular form gained through training.

If you watched him fight once, you'd see that he is brave and bold. Piercing the cannon smoke and rain of bullets, he was like a roaring wavefront as he intimidated the enemy and carried out "Justice." Beyond what the pirates could describe, he and his subordinates' strict and rugged way of living, a reflection of the ideal Marine, unashamedly reinforced the epithet of "Benevolent King of the Wavefront."

Since his premier as a Seaman Recruit, he's steadily honed his fighting prowess, leading to promotions, and his current rank is that of a Captain. After several transfers, his current posting is the Marine garrison base in Grove 66 of the Sabaody Archipelago.

Even at this base, he has been achieving many martial victories.

Leading his subordinates, with his skillful soldiers and ship, he caught many big-name pirates, faithfully carried out orders as a vassal of his superiors, and gave lots of useful advice according to a battle's situation.

"That's our Benevolent King of the Wavefront" ─could be heard whispered inside the base every time he returned from a mission.

"That guy's amazing. He was surrounded by fifty pirates, yet he didn't so much as even twitch an eyebrow."

"Have you ever heard his voice on the battlefield? It was like a shout that could break the heavens. The pirates all shrank back from it, while we were inspired."

"I saw him stop the enemy's sword with his teeth once."

"Thanks to the Benevolent King of the Wavefront, this base's cannon gate has become stronger."

This strong praising voice made its way to his ears. However, he did not care about what they had to say. Looking ahead, he saw an ever-hated pirate flag, and his body was filled with the steel penetrating will of "Justice."

o-o-o

This man, under new orders, was to face something from Marineford's War of the Best 'two years later.'

Called to the office of his commanding Rear Admiral, along with a few direct reports from subordinates, he listened to these contents:

"As they reunite on this island, we're going to arrest the Straw Hat Pirates─"

"The Straw Hat… Pirates…?"

As he asked this in return, a line of tension flashed across his expression.

It was a rare thing. No matter how harsh the order received was, he'd move into action without even a single hair out of place. That was the kind of Marine the Benevolent King of the Wavefront was supposed to be.

"On the operation's day, I would like you and your men on my ship. Here's how the squads will be organized."

As the Rear Admiral told him this, the order's transmission finished.

Even after leaving the Rear Admiral's office, something besides his normal ruggedness seemed to be bleeding into his expression.

After seeing off the Benevolent King of the Wavefront, who was returning to his own office, with a salute, the subordinates whispered.

"Did you see that? That guy looked oddly tense, right?"

"Well, I heard that the current Straw Hats are strong."

"But no matter how many strong people join up, for him to make that face…"

"Maybe it's his first time on a mission to chase the Straw Hat Pirates."

Someone said that, and someone else answered.

"No, it shouldn't be his first time dealing with them. I once had a mission with him at Eines Lobby."

Eines Lobby─ the impenetrable judicial tower and the place that symbolized the World Government's authority ─at least until the Straw Hat Pirates attacked it.

As the subordinates quietly puzzled about it behind his back, he was cradling his head in his office.

"What should I do…?!"

The day set for the operation finally came.

Riding on his commanding Rear Admiral's ship, the Benevolent King of the Waveffront looked toward Grove 42. That was where the Straw Hat Pirates would come together, according to the information they got.

Standing on the port* side of the deck, he was stewing over the strategy going forward in this operation.

When the Straw Hats' ship is sighted, they'll fire the cannons. After disabling the enemy ship so it can't navigate, they would hook and board the enemy ship, suppressing and securing the Straw Hat Pirates─

The duty he was ordered to carry out was, after the ship was hooked and while they were boarding, to cut through the front line. In other words, he was the slashing squad captain.

He had actually witnessed the Straw Hat Pirates' unusual power while on a mission at Eines Lobby. And 'unusual' wasn't meant as an insult.

Straw Hat Luffy? He had no shortage in opponents. Pirate Hunter Zoro? He had no intention of losing. Black Leg Sanji? That habit, I'll correct it. Sogeking, the navigator, Nico Robin, Franky, and the new one called Brook seemed to have come together, they had all gathered so weren't they going fight? They were fired up, full of fighting spirit─

…he wanted to head out, but a nearby subordinate concernedly called out, "Captain, you're looking a little pale there…"

"Don't worry," he returned in what he thought sounded like a dignified voice. The Benevolent King of the Wavefront must always be strong. Watching his unmatched back, the morale of those ahead of them was kept. Slapping down both hands, he regained his fire.

At that time, the Marine in charge of searching for the enemy shouted out, "Sighted the Straw Hats' ship! At 10 the o'clock position!"

Inside the ship was a sudden flurry of activity.

He too turned his spyglass that way.

─there!

In a cove made by the Yarukiman Mangrove's thick roots, he could see the Straw Hats' ship ─the Thousand Sunny─ anchored.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

It had finally come, the day he confronted the Straw Hat Pirates was─

It could be said that he'd been waiting for this day to come, yet he also hoped that it wouldn't come, if possible. For a moment, agitation bounced back into his supposedly calm heart and his whole body seemed to burn with the attacking feeling of impatience.

"Don't fire yet! Only prepare to fire!"

The Rear Admiral's order flew out, repeated by others.

As the distance between both parties shrunk, the Straw Hats' boat, drew closer to the cannons' range. At the same time, his heart rate also bounced up. …come on …come on …come on.

"Prepared to fire!"

The men manning the cannons moved on the Rear Admiral's command.

"─Fire!"

Boom! The ships rocked back from the cannon fire, the cannon balls flying toward the Straw Hats' ship.

The black cannon balls steadily drew closer─ and closer─

He screamed ─not with his voice─ in his heart.

o-o-o

Cannon balls! Don't hit them!

This is the story of a Marine officer. Their name will be kept secret.

The man with the epithet of Benevolent King of the Wavefront has a secret he won't tell anyone. A secret hidden from his family, his colleagues, his subordinates, and his superiors.

o-o-o

That is─

That is─ he has a great love for Chopper!

o-o-o

Anyways, he already liked Chopper. He was so cute you could die.

Yes, yes, Chopper, he wanted to squeeze him, run his hands through that fluffy fur, and you know, he probably smelled good, he wanted to sleep in the same bed together, take a bath together, give him another squeeze…

…he liked delusions like these.

That's why─

The cannon balls hitting the Straw Hats' ship would be terrible.

The thing is, yes, it's that if the cannon balls hit and the Straw Hats' Ship starts sinking, Chopper might die! Chopper is a Devil Fruit User, so he can't swim, right? So he might drown to death, right? That would be horrible─! Too sad─!

That's why─

Cannon balls! Don't hit them─!

That's what he felt. Gaboom!

o-o-o

His 'encounter' with Chopper was during his mission at Eines Lobby.

At the time, he received orders from his superiors to head the sniper unit and head to the roof of the building in front of the courthouse.

On the back of the King Bull rushing for the Tower of Justice, he caught sight of a fluffy reindeer for a moment.

Wha─

What was that, that cuteness was─!

That cuteness just wasn't fair at all─!

Even as he led the sniper unit, a shot went through him. A bullet of love for Chopper.

Since then, he hasn't stopped loving the fluffy, cuddly, adorable creature.

Incidentally, right after the Eines Lobby incident, the Straw Hat Pirates bounties were updated and Chopper's was added to the list.

His bounty was 50b beri. Looking at the picture of Chopper eating cotton candy, he drowned in it.

C-U-T-E! This was so C-U-T-E!

His thick eyebrows were like a ハ (ha) character and his trained body was trembling─ of course no one could see this since he had looked himself in his room at home.

…how strange. Just what am I doing? And he thought it was strange how that fluffiness had captured his heart.

He didn't particularly like animals. He never played with stuffed animals as a child.

He thought he'd become a fine adult in his age, that was it. So why?

I heard that that transcendently cute monster was born from a Devil Fruit─ that's what I became fascinated with, isn't it…?

…thinking about it, it doesn't actually matter, because Chopper is so cute!

o-o-o

Because he likes him, he did research. About Chopper. He ordered various documents.

His real name is, oh, he's called Tony Tony Chopper, huh? Hmm, he comes from Drum Kingdom. Ehh! A doctor! How smart. Hm? During a mission, a soldier reported that he'd heard Chopper's voice. It sounds like a young boy's, huh? I want to hear it. I want to hear something like "I'm a doctor" in that voice. Hyaaa, so cute. …What? He can take on various forms because of a mysterious pill? …Ah, that reminds me, there was a report that he rampaged as a ridiculously big monster at Eines Lobby, so that's probably this, right?

The more he knew, the deeper his attachment to Chopper got. The more he knew, the more that, the cuddly impact of his form, gained destructive force.

He wasn't your normal cute mascot, he brought various skills with him, and it was that cuteness that he thought was, ah, already unbearable.

But for all of that─

No matter how cute Chopper is, no matter how cuddly he seems, there's a fact that can't be forgotten. That is: Chopper is a pirate and he is a Marine.

Marines chase pirates and have to arrest them. In this situation, that life would be taken─

Take his life? Impossible, impossible, impossible. Imagining that grinds all thoughts to a halt. Made it impossible to breath.

That's why the deeper his thoughts of Chopper went, the more he struggled with the conflict. I want to meet him. No, I don't want to meet him. No…

In the event of an unlikely encounter with the Straw Hat Pirates, he had no confidence in whether or not he would behave correctly as befitting a Marine. As the Benevolent King of the Wavefront, would he be able to swing the blade of justice, or would the murmuring of 'love' for Chopper…

Fortunately, he didn't know if it was proper to say that, but since the Eines Lobby incident, he wasn't sent on any missions related to the Straw Hats.

Therefore, he could hold a certain attitude toward the Straw Hat Pirates.

However, the mission this time around made that impossible.

They were to arrest the Straw Hat Pirates─ from the moment he received those orders, he'd been troubled and burned by the flames of conflict.

What should I do…?!

He hated pirates, but Chopper was cute.

Right now, cannon balls were being steadily fired toward the ship carrying that 'cuteness.'

…don't hit them, don't hit them, don't hit them…

"─Don't hit them!"

The cannon balls─ didn't hit them. They landed right next to the Straw Hats' ship, but the hull took no damage. Thank goodness. However, a nearby subordinate said, "Captain, did you just say, 'don't hit them'!?"

Ah! I said it. I said it out loud! He hurried to fix his mistake.

"Tha-that's not what I said! It was, um, right, 'Don't get sloppy!**' I said, 'Don't get sloppy!' Pay closer attention!"

"Oh, is that right, sir?! My apologies!"

As they conversed, the commander ordered the next round of cannon fire be released.

Do-do-don! Do-do-don!

Agh! Wai-! So much! With this many shots they were sure to land a hit.

This is bad! Run away, Chopper! He wanted to shout out.

Countless pink arrows came flying, piercing all the cannon balls. And because of that, they all deviated from their target, sinking into the ocean.

What just happened!? And before the flustered ship, as they approached, appeared a single pirate ship. A pirate ship pulled by two giant snakes─ the Pirate Empress Hancock's ship. It was likely Hancock that released the pink arrows as well.

"Wait! Stop firing!" the Rear Admiral shouted.

He didn't know why Hancock had appeared here. He didn't know, but─

"Nice one! Hancock!"

He smiled and gave a fist pump. However, a subordinate saw that.

"Captain!? Did I just hear you say, 'nice one'!?"

"Huh!? Ah, moron! There's no way I'd say something like that! See, I said, 'damn woman***'! I said, 'damn woman, Hancock!' Make no mistake about it!"

"Is that right, sir!?"

"Yes, it is! Agh, that thrice damned empress!" he said, quickly making an angry expression.

"Kuja Pirates! What are you doing here!? Do you intend to disrupt our mission!?" the Rear Admiral raised his voice in a true angry protest. However, it didn't cause Hancock to falter.

"Who left a battleship in my path!?" she said. It was her rumored arrogance.

What's that? Get out of the way. She intended to clash with the Marines? Yet before the Marines could make those good retorts, their eyes became hearts due to Hancock's beauty.

Yet on this ship, he─ the Benevolent King of the Wavefront alone's heart was not captured by Hancock's beauty

Right now, in his heart was,

Run away, Chopper! ─just this one thought.

Now's your chance! Go now while Hancock has our ship stopped! Chopper, Straw Hat, I'm begging you to run─!

His prayer was answered.

With a bon, the Straw Hats' ship was encased in a bubble. It's called a coating. Soon the ship began to sink. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

A marine who noticed shouted out, "Rear Admiraal-dono! The pirate ship is escaping into the sea!"

The Rear Admiral got angry. With hearts in his eyes, he yelled, "You idiots, don't you know what kind of criminals those bastards are~"****

But he was too late. The Straw Hats' ship was completely out of sight and their battle ship couldn't follow them.

The Straw Hat Pirates had successfully escaped.

"…they're safe," he said.

Then came the expected misunderstanding, as a subordinate asked yet again, "Captain, did you just say, 'they're safe'?"

Aaah, these noisey guys just come one after another.

He gave the subordinate a hard stare.

"Yeah, that's right. I said, 'they're safe.'"

A confused expression floated on the subordinate's face.

"Ah, why would you, say something like that…?"

"I'm not in the mode to deal with insects today. If I had boarded they're ship today and fought them, I wouldn't have made any allowances for them and killed them all, you see. The bounty posters say "Dead or Alive," but it would be bad to bring them all in dead, you see."

With this a smile so thin you could barely see it floated to his face.

"I-I see. 'They're safe' meant they escaped with their lives, then? That's our Captain."

Staring at the subordinate, who had fear and respect mixing in his eyes, he gave a single nod in return, then returned his view to the sea.

Once more taking a secretly relieved breath.

The mission this time, it was only for a short while, yet it felt as if he'd exhausted all his energy up to this point not following the mission.

Was Chopper letting out a sigh of relief on his ship too? Saying something like, "Haa, I escaped with my life!" with that rumoredly cute voice would be nice. Or would it be more realistic to be worrying about the bubble coating popping? Saying, "Is this going to be okay─!?" Either way he thought about it resulted in a small snort.

But after that relief, a bitter feeling welled up.

What's a Marine doing being relieved that pirates escaped, huh? came the bitter reprimand to himself.

His 'love' towards Chopper or his current position as a Marine, which was more important? He still hadn't reached an answer yet. This conflict without a way out contined in a grueling manner for him even now.

I'll be drinking tonight, he decided. He'd wash away this bitterness with alcohol. In honor of Chopper, he had left some sake with the character for sakura in its name at his house.

With his coat fluttering, he turned around to his subordinates on deck. With that stern expression, the Benevolent King of the Wavefront had already returned.

o-o-o

There is one little incident after that day.

The Straw Hat Pirates set out in the New World, and after arriving in Dressrosa, they defeated one of the Ouka Shichibukai, Doflamingo.

More importantly, the crew's bounty posters were updated, meaning Chopper got a new one too.

His bounty was 100 beri. His picture was, once again, of him eating cotton candy.

Looked in his room, he had fainted with the bounty poster in hand.

o-o-o

Truly, he was so C-U-T-E!

Translation Notes

The * point

left side for all of us who aren't fluent in sailor speak (kanji makes it easier as the one for left is part of the Japanese word, haha).

The ** point

doesn't work so well in English as his cover-up was just 'sloppy'. The actual difference is a-ta-ru-na to ta-ru-mu-na, so they share three syllables in the same general order, so I tried to keep things similar between the truth and cover-up.

The *** point

Same as the previous cover-up in concept, with the cover-up being along the lines of "that bastard/bitch". Actual difference is na-i-su-da to nan-te-ya-tsu-da where both start with na and end with a su-da sound as tsu and su are very close phonetically.

The **** point

There was a heart symbol at the end of this sentence. Seeing as I can't really replicate that, I went with a tilde.