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Chapter 9: Life in Sabaody
Forced into a ridiculous, two-year unpaid labor contract to pay off an exorbitant debt at Shakky's Rip-off Bar, I, Line, found myself officially joining the working class.
The daily work I was made to do consisted basically of odd jobs tailored to my minuscule size. I swept the wooden floorboards using a custom-made broom constructed from twigs, darted through the bustling markets for daily grocery shopping, and meticulously watered the exotic flower beds out front. I also happily allowed myself to be doted on by Shakky with sweet treats, and occasionally helped mercilessly beat up stingy customers who came in thinking they could rip the bar off. Well, my daily life looked something like that.
Something I realized immediately after I started working here: Shakky is freaking strong!! Inhumanly strong!!
"Now then, gentlemen," Shakky smiled sweetly, taking a long drag from her cigarette as she leaned over the counter. "Could you kindly empty out all the money you have in your pockets?"
"Y-Yes... I'll pay... please, no more..."
Three massive, heavily tattooed thugs who looked to be easily over three meters tall were currently groveling on the floor of the store. Naturally, when they had first swaggered in, they had confidently tried to skip out on paying their massive alcohol bill. But before I could even blink or jump into a fighting stance, they were instantly sunk into the floorboards by a single, casual Shakky Punch. She didn't even drop her cigarette ashes.
In the time it took me to proudly help out and kick one groaning pirate in the shin, Shakky had already effortlessly folded the other two into human pretzels.
...Yeah. I'm really, really glad she let me off the hook with just a labor contract back then...
I'll never think about running away again, and I'll work earnestly until my debt is fully repaid, I decided, vigorously polishing a beer mug that was larger than my entire torso.
Ray-san, on the other hand, basically adopted a permanent "I don't care" attitude when it came to the store's daily affairs and financial struggles. He apparently worked as a highly specialized "coating" mechanic for pirate ships heading underwater or something, but I had yet to see him actually pick up a tool or do a single lick of work.
He sat at his favorite table reading the daily newspaper, drank vast amounts of expensive alcohol, slept through bar fights, or occasionally wandered out into the lawless zones to go gambling. Basically, he felt exactly like a carefree grandpa thoroughly enjoying a lazy, deadbeat retirement lifestyle.
But this person... beneath that lazy exterior... is terrifyingly strong...
One time, feeling exceptionally generous, Ray-san dragged me out of the dusty store on his shoulder to show me around the island. He took me to the vibrant amusement parks, rowdy taverns, and shady underground gambling houses...
And during that little field trip, a group of very tough-looking, heavily armed pirates tried to pick a fight with him in an alleyway over some gambling winnings. Without even spilling his flask, Ray-san completely incapacitated the screaming captain, using just a single, devastating flick to the forehead that sent the man flying through a brick wall.
Ray-san is unbelievably strong!!
Ray-san is incredibly scary!! That was how I felt.
Because of the lingering trauma from when he had nearly crushed my heart with his intimidating aura during our very first meeting, I thought to myself... I'd really rather not get too deeply involved with this dangerous old man if possible~...
"By the way, Line," Ray-san asked casually one evening, peering at me over his round glasses. "Do you like young women?"
"Huh?" my fluffy tail twitched in surprise.
...
Later that night, the supposedly retired Ray-san enthusiastically sneaked me into a slightly naughty, brightly lit establishment in the red-light district.
There was no actual deed done, given my physical size, but sitting comfortably on a velvet couch, I got to thoroughly enjoy being squished between some very large, incredibly soft, bouncy assets.
"Uwooooh!! Ray-san!! You are a god among men!!" I cried tears of profound joy on our way back. "I'm truly, from the very bottom of my heart, so glad that I got involved with you!! So please take me there again next week! Fhehehehehe~~!!"
"...You're quite opportunistic and simple-minded for a fairy. But a growing man should be at least that passionate about his desires. Wahahaha!" Ray-san laughed heartily, taking a swig from his flask.
Like that, I had anxiously wondered how terrible things would turn out when my life of indentured servitude began, but somehow or another, surrounded by these two bizarre monsters, I was actually having a lot of fun.
—————
Thanks to Ray-san showing me around and Shakky rigorously teaching me, I had become fairly knowledgeable about the unique geography and culture of the island I was currently stranded on.
The name of the island was the "Sabaody Archipelago."
Rather than a traditional island made of dirt and rock, they explained it was actually a massive cluster of seventy-nine gigantic Yarukiman Mangrove trees.
Everyone built their towns, shops, and lives directly on top of the giant, striped tree roots protruding majestically from the sea. Something like that.
A special natural resin secreted from the tree roots periodically generated massive, floating soap bubbles, and apparently, that beautiful phenomenon was the origin of the Sabaody Archipelago's name. The bubbles wouldn't pop unless they left the island's unique climate.
But to think mere tree roots could become a thriving island capable of supporting cities. The world sure is vast... As a Tontatta who loves nature, I'd really like to try planting and growing a giant tree like this at least once in my life.
The Sabaody Archipelago had specific numbers assigned to each of its seventy-nine trees, dividing the island into neat little districts...
1 to 29 was the lawless zone, filled with pirates, bounty hunters, and human auction houses.
30 to 39 was the bustling shopping district, including the Sabaody Park.
40 to 49 was for tourism and souvenirs.
50 to 59 was the shipyard where coating mechanics operated.
60 to 69 was the heavily fortified Marine base.
70 to 79 was the luxurious hotel district.
It was neatly organized something like that.
By the way, our very own Shakky's Rip-off Bar was located squarely in Grove 13, making it completely and utterly deep inside the dangerous lawless zone.
...To boldly build an extortionate bar in a place crawling with violent murderers... just who exactly are Shakky and Ray-san...? For the sake of my own sanity, I decided I would try not to think too deeply about their pasts.
—————
About one full year had passed since I was forced to start working at Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
Lately, I had become completely accustomed to the unique rhythm of life in Sabaody.
One afternoon, I was out doing the weekly grocery shopping in the vibrant markets of Grove 41.
Just like always, utilizing my natural Tontatta agility, I zipped through the crowds like an invisible gust of wind. I grabbed the fresh cabbages, spices, and meats I wanted at a speed the human eye couldn't possibly follow, and then tossed the exact amount of Berries onto the merchant's newly emptied stall space before sprinting away.
"Hehehehe, they got a lot of really fresh, crisp vegetables in stock today," I grinned, carrying a soap-bubble bag on my back that was three times my size.
Even on this diverse island, dwarves were a highly sought-after, incredibly rare sight. So, anytime I was outside the safety of Shakky's store, I moved carefully, making absolutely sure human eyes didn't spot me.
I absolutely do not want to accidentally get caught in a net and sent back to that hellish slave market.
Apparently, because of my shopping habits, I had come to be known as the 'Invisible Phantom Thief' among the baffled local merchants.
Hey, even though I'm properly paying exact change for everything, calling me a phantom thief is pretty rude! I'm an honest customer!
Anyway, my shopping list was complete, so all that was left was to head back to Shakky's store to prepare dinner... and that was when it happened.
"Hm? Over there... in the grass... a rabbit?" I muttered, stopping on a thick branch and peering down.
"..."
In a small, quiet, sunlit plaza on the outskirts of the grove, I spotted a single rabbit standing all alone near a flowerbed.
It was a pretty small rabbit. About 20 cm or so. It was almost the exact same size as me. Its soft fur was a beautiful lynx color—a light orange-gray close to white—and it was incredibly, overwhelmingly cute. Its little nose was twitching nervously.
Is it someone's lost pet? Or is it a wild animal?
Regardless, it's incredibly rare to see a fragile rabbit wandering around a place like this. Stray dogs or hungry pirates would snatch it up in an instant.
"There, there, good girl, it's not scary~," I cooed softly.
Out of sheer, innocent curiosity, I hopped down from the branch and slowly approached the rabbit to pet it... and in the very next moment—
"Eh!? A-A dwarf!?" the rabbit gasped in a very high-pitched, human girl's voice.
"Huh...?" I froze.
Seeing my tiny figure, the rabbit violently twitched, its long ears shooting straight up, and it jumped straight into the air in shock.
No, wait... eh?
"THE RABBIT SPOKE!?" I screamed, pointing at the animal.
"THE DWARF SPOKE!!?" the rabbit screamed back, pointing a furry paw at me.
Ehhh!? I thought, as the rabbit and I ended up mutually surprising each other over our respective, impossible existences, staring at one another in the middle of the empty plaza.
...
"...I see, so it's the power of a Devil Fruit..." I nodded sagely, sitting cross-legged on the grass.
"Y-Yes... So for you, Mr. Dwarf, that's your normal, regular size... right..." the girl replied nervously.
The talking rabbit I had found was actually a human girl who had accidentally eaten the Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit, Model: Netherland Dwarf.
Right now, feeling safe, she had undone her beast-form transformation and returned to her normal human appearance. She was a very cute girl with big, expressive eyes and short, fluffy lynx-colored hair. She looked to be about middle school age... maybe?
I was entirely convinced she was a real, ordinary rabbit; to think I'd let a human see me so easily... Well, whatever. The secret is out. Introductions first.
"So anyway, my name is Line! I'm a proud warrior of the Tontatta Tribe!" I puffed out my chest, standing up. "Age 16. Favorite food is apples. My height is 20 cm, but I plan to be 200 cm very soon!"
"P-Planned...? U-Umm, my name is Esune... Age 11, and my favorite food is carbonara. My height is 150 cm."
150 cm, huh... She's only eleven, yet she's already taller than I was as an adult human in my past life. Dammit. Genetics are unfair.
After listening to her story, it seemed Esune's parents ran a traditional, highly respected restaurant on the Sabaody Archipelago, making them a very normal, ordinary, and loving family.
Esune was living as a normal girl too, but just the other day, she found a strange, swirling fruit in a shipment of exotic ingredients, accidentally ate it, and became a Rabbit Human.
She was desperately keeping the fact that she had become a Devil Fruit user a secret from her parents and acquaintances out of fear of being treated like a freak or targeted by slavers. That was why she was secretly practicing her rabbit transformation all alone in this hidden plaza.
"I see, I see~. That's rough," I said, nodding sympathetically.
"When I let my guard down or get scared, sometimes my rabbit ears or a fluffy tail just pop out on their own by accident..." she sniffled, rubbing her arms.
"I have a few Devil Fruit ability users among my Tontatta acquaintances too. Guys who turn into beetles and hornets! And in the beginning, they also struggled heavily with controlling their transformations the exact same way you are."
"Is that true!? You know other people like me!?" Esune's eyes lit up with hope. "Um... those acquaintances of yours... where are they?"
"Ah~, unfortunately, they aren't on this island. They're far away in a place called Dressrosa in the New World."
"I see..."
Esune immediately dropped her shoulders, looking utterly dejected.
There, there, don't look so sad, I thought, feeling a pang of big-brotherly sympathy. "Hey, you'll be able to control it perfectly eventually, so don't worry about it so much."
"If you want, since I know how it works, I wouldn't mind keeping you company while you practice your rabbit transformations," I offered with a grin.
"!! Really!?"
"Yeah. I usually work full-time at a bar, so I can't do it all the time, but I'll definitely keep you company when I have free time. ...In exchange, keep the fact that you saw a living dwarf a total secret from your parents, okay..."
"Yes! I promise! Thank you very much! Line-san!" she beamed, her smile brighter than the sun.
What an honest, incredibly good kid.
Anyway, since I was technically in the middle of shopping and Shakky would get annoyed if I dawdled, I shouldered my Bon Bag, and headed back to Shakky's Rip-off Bar.
"I'm hoooome, Shakky," I called out, pushing the heavy doors open.
"Welcome back, Line-chan," Shakky greeted from behind the counter, wiping a glass. "Did something good happen out there? You look like you're in a remarkably good mood."
"Hehehe, just a little. I met someone in the grove who seems like they could be a really good friend."
"That's wonderful to hear. You need friends your own age," she said.
Shakky smiled gently as she took my groceries and then surprisingly served me fresh apples meticulously cut into the shape of little rabbits for an afternoon snack.
...Serving me rabbit-apples right after I secretly made a rabbit friend... did she already know? Her observation skills are terrifying... No, well, I'm still gonna eat them... Delicious.
...
After that fateful meeting, whenever I managed to get a day off from cleaning the bar, I frequently met up with Esune in the quiet groves and kept my promise by helping her practice her Zoan abilities.
"Alright, Esune! First up is practicing turning into your human-beast form on command. Come on, try it," I instructed, standing on a rock like a drill sergeant.
"Y-Yes! Big brother!"
Lately, Esune had been affectionately calling me "big brother" since I was technically five years older than her. I definitely didn't feel bad about it. My ego was thriving. Hehehe.
"Nnngh... Hah!" Esune squeezed her eyes shut in concentration. A soft popping sound echoed. "Oh, my rabbit ears popped out, and my thighs got super fluffy! My hands have fluffy paws too!"
"Ohh, perfect! That's your human-beast form. Compared to your human form, your leg strength and hearing should be massively enhanced. Your height is about one-third now, right?"
Beast form, human-beast form, and human form.
Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability users can primarily transform into three distinct forms. Being completely powerless myself, I didn't truly understand the physical difficulty of controlling those form changes, but I think Esune was a natural. She became able to control them at a relatively early stage.
"Ehehe, look at this. I'm the exact same size as you, big brother!" she giggled, shifting down entirely into her full animal state.
When she turned into her full beast form, her height was almost completely identical to mine. Because it made us eye-level, whenever Esune met up with me, she usually stayed transformed into her beast form.
Her appearance was exactly that of an adorable Netherland Dwarf rabbit. Yeah. She was cute, warm, and incredibly soothing to be around. She was so fluffy, it made me want to pet her all over.
"Here we go, fluff, fluff, fluff, fluff!" I chanted, aggressively rubbing her soft cheeks with both hands.
"Fwah!? Big bwothe... fwah... fwaaaahh~~" Esune melted into a puddle of absolute bliss, her back leg thumping happily against the grass.
Esune especially loved having her cheeks and the spot right between her long ears rubbed.
"Are you looking for something called the Huge Huge Fruit, big brother?" she asked one afternoon as we lay in the sun.
"Yep. I'm gonna travel the sea, eat the Huge Huge Fruit, say a permanent goodbye to this tiny dwarf body, become a towering, tall, handsome guy, and be super popular with the ladies!" I declared proudly, punching the air.
"I-I see? Is being tall that important?" she tilted her furry head.
"Of course! There are busty, beautiful princesses eagerly waiting for my triumphant return back in my hometown of Dressrosa, after all. For their sake too, I'm gonna become a huge man!"
"I-I seeeee... Big brother is a bit of a pervert, isn't he..."
Between working tirelessly at Shakky's store on the weekdays, and happily playing with Esune or searching the merchant stalls for the Huge Huge Fruit on my days off... somehow or another, the trauma of Mary Geoise faded, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying my new, chaotic life in Sabaody.
—————
With this and that happening, the seasons changed, and another full year passed.
It had been exactly two years since I frantically stumbled into Shakky's store and ate her beans. ...The promised day had finally come for my impossible debt to Shakky to be fully, officially repaid.
"Uwooooh!! Debt repaid! Two million a year! I finally did it! I'm a free dwarf!!" I cheered, jumping onto the bar counter and doing a victory dance.
"Ufufu, congratulations, Line-chan. You worked very hard these past two years," Shakky smiled warmly, handing me a massive mug of juice.
"Thank you, Shakky! Thank youuuu!"
I hugged her thumb, thanking Shakky while ugly-crying, fat tears streaming down my face.
There were definitely harsh days early on where I scrubbed floors until my arms ached and thought, Are you a literal demon for making a child work for free for two whole years over a dine-and-dash fee that wasn't even worth one decent meal!? but...
Thinking about it deeply now, I could understand the truth. Shakky had casually provided a safe place to live, warm food, and a secure environment for a traumatized, hunted dwarf who had nowhere else to go. The "debt" was just a convenient excuse to keep my pride intact while keeping me off the streets.
She patiently taught me a lot of common sense about how the world worked, and she even casually gave me some combat and stealth training disguised as "chores."
I really could never fully repay my immense debt of gratitude to this wonderful person.
"So, now that you're officially a free man with no obligations, Line-chan, what are you going to do from now on?" Shakky asked, resting her chin on her hand.
"Let's see... I'm thinking about leaving the island and setting off on a journey to find the Huge Huge Fruit again. After searching around the local black markets for two years, I found out it seems the Huge Huge Fruit definitely isn't anywhere on the Sabaody Archipelago."
"I see. The sea is dangerous, but you've grown strong. I'll be cheering for you so that your dream comes true, Line-chan. Good luck out there."
"Thanks, Shakky. Ray-san, thank you for taking care of me too! Thanks for the life lessons!" I bowed deeply to the old man in the corner.
"Yeah, come by again whenever you like. The door is always open," Ray-san chuckled, raising his glass in a toast.
Now then, before I pack my Bon Bag and leave this island for good, there's one more important person I need to say a proper goodbye to.
The kind rabbit girl I've become really good friends with over the past year. Slipping out the back door, I headed toward the residential area of Grove 41, where she lived.
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