Chapter 9: I Fought Big Mom for Food in Elbaf
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground trembled violently with each step as two enormous shadows approached. Dust billowed upward, scattering across the wide streets of Elbaf Village.
Roy and Hajrudin looked up—way up.
Towering before them were two giants whose presence seemed to reshape the very air: Jarul and Jorul, the former captains of the legendary Giant Pirates. After their crew's disbandment, they had returned to their homeland to live in peace.
Jarul stood 20.5 meters tall, his thick, mountain-like beard dragging across his chest.
Beside him, Jorul—21.5 meters tall—boasted a beard even longer and denser, flowing down like a mighty waterfall.
Giants not only lived large—they lived long.
Jarul, at 345 years old, was the oldest living warrior in the village, while Jorul followed closely behind at 344.
"Lord Jorul! Lord Jarul!" Redding immediately stood straight, bowing his head with deep respect.
Jorul nodded thoughtfully. "Carmel once said, 'Plunder is worse than trade.' True words… but we must never forget who we are."
His voice thundered across the village like distant rolling waves. "We are warriors."
Redding bowed again. "Yes, Lord Jorul."
Hajrudin's eyes gleamed with reverence. Standing before these legends, he could feel his blood boil with pride and longing.
"Roy," Jarul rumbled, his voice carrying the weight of centuries, "you did well. Keep it up, boy."
Roy straightened, meeting the elder's gaze. "Thank you, senior. I'll keep working hard!"
Though small and human, his strength and defense had impressed the giants.
Even if he couldn't match Linlin's raw power, his discipline, curiosity, and willingness to learn had earned him something she never cared for—their respect.
Among the warriors of Elbaf—Jorul, Jarul, Redding, Casey, and others—Roy was no longer seen as an outsider.
He was the human child who trained like a giant.
The difference was simple: Linlin was like the wild child next door… while Roy felt like their own.
Hajrudin clenched his fists, glancing between the two old giants. One day, he swore silently, I'll become as great as them.
Then he turned to Roy, eyes burning with determination.
And I'll start by defeating you.
Roy noticed his gaze, grinned, and patted him on the arm.
"Easy there! That hurts!" Hajrudin yelped, baring his teeth. "Damn it, don't you know your own strength?!"
"Hahaha!" Jarul roared with laughter, his deep voice shaking the air. Stroking his massive beard, he turned to the others. "The feast is ready! Call the children of the Sheep's House—we're eating Samla tonight!"
"Eh? What's Samla?" Linlin asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
"It's a sweet snack," Roy explained. "Everyone eats it before the twelve-day fasting of the Winter Solstice Festival. It's packed with energy to help you last through the fast."
"Yeah!" Gerd chimed in, skipping over. "It's delicious! And before the fasting begins, eating Samla is one of the best parts!"
Roy sighed inwardly. The people of this world truly had insane endurance.
From Elbaf's fasting rituals to Zeff and Sanji surviving weeks stranded at sea, to Zoro training half-starved—everyone in this world was built differently.
But Linlin… Linlin was another story.
When hunger overtook her, it wasn't endurance that came next—it was destruction.
He knew too well what would happen. During this very fasting festival, Linlin would lose control to her food cravings, rampaging through Elbaf and leaving devastation in her wake.
Jorul himself would be gravely injured, and soon after… die.
Roy's stomach twisted. He respected the giants and their traditions—but this particular one spelled tragedy.
I have to find a way to stop it, he thought grimly.
He glanced at Linlin. She was already drooling, her eyes sparkling with uncontrollable hunger.
"She can't stay here," he murmured under his breath. "Not during the fast."
In the original timeline, the nun had taken Linlin and the children away only after disaster struck—when Linlin's hunger consumed her reason.
On her sixth birthday, she ate and ate until she lost herself completely.
The next morning, the children and the nun were gone… replaced only by the lingering taste of their food.
The anime skipped the details to stay clean, but the truth was clear.
Linlin had eaten them.
And when she regained her senses, she found she'd inherited the nun's Soul-Soul Fruit—the grim proof of what had happened.
Roy knew the signs. Linlin's cravings weren't simply hunger.
Sometimes, it was the absence of a particular food—an obsession so deep it devoured her reason.
Other times, it was pure instinct—an unstoppable frenzy.
If she stayed in Elbaf, it was only a matter of time before that hunger returned.
Roy clenched his fists. I'll protect Elbaf… even if it means sending Linlin away.
"Are we eating now!? Sweet snacks!!" Linlin shouted, practically bouncing, drool dripping from her mouth.
Under the clear blue sky, laughter echoed through the village.
Long tables were set up everywhere, covered with wooden bowls stacked high with Samla—golden pastries dusted with powdered sugar.
The giants drank from huge mugs, roaring in good spirits, while the children from the Sheep's House crowded together around a smaller table, staring at the treats in awe.
Roy inhaled deeply. The air was thick with sweetness.
He grabbed a Samla before Linlin could devour them all.
The moment he bit down, the sugary crust gave way to soft cream and marzipan inside. Sweetness melted across his tongue, rich and heavenly.
No wonder Linlin lost control over these…
He took another. Then another.
Meanwhile, Linlin's massive hands were moving like twin shadows, grabbing Samla after Samla, her cheeks bulging as she devoured them with blissful abandon.
Before long, Roy was locked in a silent, desperate contest with her—snatching pastries as fast as he could before she cleaned the table bare.
The children around them stared in disbelief.
Was this human boy… actually competing with Linlin over food?
So bold. So reckless.
So brave.
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