[One Piece] Inferior Star

This story begins with me.You may never have seen my face, but you must have felt my presence.I don't have to guess or gamble, as long as you are human, you must have felt me.

For I am what was born of your consciousness.Yes, I am a 'thing'.In your terms... no life.I am not alive, I am a different being than you, so this story will begin with me.In this way, you don't have to judge whether my paraphrase has any personal feelings.

After all, to me, you are all the same creature.Neither your deeds, good or evil or civilization and all the values ​​you have created means nothing to me.Therefore, I am 'just'.

Let's get started now.As you can see, this is a place covered in ice and snow.However, this is not the South Pole or the North Pole as you know it.This is not your planet.This is a star in some galaxy far, farther than the longest distance you can imagine.

It is covered by ice and snow all year round, the land is barren, and it is impossible to breed any advanced civilization.Its name is 'Ilen', and its most special feature is that it has a mine.

A magical mineral can be produced in this mine. You can say that this mineral is a gem, but it can be said that it is garbage. After all, for those who do not understand its true use, it is no different from ordinary stones.

It is said that those who enter the Yilan Mine will see visions.They will use their power to defeat the worst nightmare in their hearts.If you succeed, you can get Ilan's treasure (that is, the gem), if you fail, you may return to the original point or wander forever in the cold mine until you die.

The reason why I say it is said is because I am not a human being, and I will see 'visions' at any time.I can't judge whether the rumor is true or not, but there are always some people who believe it.In any case, this story begins with Yileng.Did you see the man walking slowly towards the Ilan Mine?He is our protagonist.

Hey, I thought so at first.But I was wrong.Because he is dying.

He could have been a good protagonist, but he was bound by the kindness he generated as a 'creature'.If he was a ruthless fighter like he was made to be, then he would be our hero.But he was not, he forcibly changed the theme of this story with the most humble human weakness.

He's on his way to being our true protagonist, who needs to use up the last bit of value in his life to create a... hope.No.Not that great.He is no longer the protagonist, his humble strength cannot create such a great thing, he is only going to save a life like him.

If the life of the protagonist is that bright first-class star, then the life he wants to save is just an inferior star.It can only emit a little bit of twilight, can only emit a glimmer of light, and can't shine on anyone.However……

But in the darkest night, even the dimmest inferior star still shines.

Therefore, that life can also be our protagonist.It's just that she has a little flaw, and that flaw is——

Do you see the dust in the air?I know that some human beings are very tired of dust. They will wipe the floor, the table top, change their clothes over and over again, and rinse with water, trying to make these small particles disappear forever.But have you ever thought, perhaps, the existence of these small particles has a more profound meaning.Would you believe me if I said it was a manifestation of a barrier?

Um?Defects you say?I'm about to explain.The dust builds up a barrier, a thin layer that you can't normally touch or penetrate.But when you fall asleep, when you dream, you can go to the world on the other side of the barrier.There is the world of dreams, that is... my 'hometown'.

That's not a good place, after all, where there are dreams, there are also nightmares.You would never hope to get there awake, but as long as you sleep honestly, even if it is a nightmare, it is impossible to chase beyond the barrier.And our protagonist's little flaw is...

Her subtle connection to the dream world.She could get there even if she wasn't dreaming.As I said, this is not a good thing, she can bring nightmares into this world.

This is her flaw, and I... am her flaw.

... Are you scared?Heck, have no fear.There is still a farther distance between you and me.Don't be nervous, I'm just the voice talking to myself in a book.Let's go back to our protagonist.

She is still an ignorant baby, she is too young to even remember the face of the benefactor in front of her, and even more unable to understand that Yi Leng's cold winter cannot allow her little life to survive for even one day.

She will go to a more distant planet, which is almost covered by the sea, and a new world formed by islands connected by islands.There may not be a spacecraft that can fly into the depths of the universe, and there may be no ultimate weapon that can emit scorching rays, but maybe, only in such a place can she be saved.

Maybe she needs to run so far to get rid of the nightmare that cannot tolerate her little life like the cold winter in Yi Leng.

On the blue sea, she stretched out her curious hand towards the sun as a baby, and was handed over to a "righteous man" in a pure white uniform——

"This is the right way."

The dying man speaks only a word, and can no longer move.Kneeling before the man in the white uniform, he became an eternal statue.

No name, no identity, no 'will'.There is only one declaration of unknown meaning.

This is the right way... This is the beginning of the story.

I am different from my 'companions' in that I don't like to incite and seduce with words of charm.I like to be outspoken.It won't be a smooth sailing story, but it won't be an extremely dangerous battle either.If I were you, I'd sit there with two glasses of chilled juice and watch it carefully.

Why two cups?Hey my friend.We've said all this, can't you even offer me a glass of juice?

I want iced yuzu tea, three-point sugar, and a super large cup.

What are you still doing?Hurry up and go back, you still want to continue reading this story, right?

——A Bookshelf in a Dream "The Speech of 'Anger'"