Toad Oil That Cures Every Illness (2/3)

Amigasa Village is a village in the Kuri region of Wano Country, famous throughout Wano Country for its production of straw hats.

Tama and his master Tenguyama Hitetsu, live here.

Compared to his mysterious and eccentric master, Tama's daily life was very simple and regular.

She went to the market every day to sell straw hats and used the money to buy food.

However, due to Kurozumi Orochi's brutal rule, the people in the town didn't have much money.

"Another fruitless day..."

Tama carried her still-full baskets, walking step by step into the village.

Although she is rather thin due to malnutrition, Tama's face is still very cute. (See picture)

She has large, round, purple eyes and medium-length, deep lilac hair, which she usually wears in a bun, adorned with Oshigushi and a hairpin.

She wore a light green short skirt kimono with many patches, tied with a light orange wide belt, and had long, slender legs. She was barefoot and wore a pair of green strappy sandals.

However, Tama made herself very clean and even saved money on food to dress herself up.

Because Tama once made a promise with a Freckled Boy that one day she would become Bewitching Female Ninja.

If he becomes Bewitching Female Ninja, he can sail the seas with the pirate Ace.

In the original story, Tama insisted on staying in Amigasa Village, waiting for Ace to visit again.

However, four years later, he received news of Ace's death from Luffy.

At this moment, Tama had no idea that the sunny, cheerful boy who had once promised to set sail with her was now depressed.

The culprit that caused his depression has also extended its reach to Amigasa Village.

Sitting atop a high cliff, Ma Qiao smiled as he watched the lovely girl making her way up the mountain path, her steps graceful and unsteady.

Tama is arguably his favorite character in the Wano Country arc.

Where is Kozuki Oden's father?

"Take me to see him right now!"

"I want to acknowledge him as my father! I want to become Kozuki Oden!"

If it weren't for the annoying white-haired spirit inside the Lantern, Ma Qiao would be in a much better mood.

"Yamato, Oden is certainly more important than some little girl struggling to make ends meet, I understand!"

Ma Qiao rolled his eyes at the little white-haired creature inside the Lantern.

"But Tama is also a very important character. Don't you think he looks a lot like Kozuki Yasuo?"

Yamato frowned. "Do they look alike? It's just that the hair color is the same, isn't it?"

"That's the crux of the matter!"

Ma Qiao asked with a smile, "Think about it, most people in Wano Country have black hair, especially samurai, who are almost all black-haired. Why is Kozuki Yasuo purple-haired?"

Before Yamato could think Yamato, Ma Qiao immediately explained, "That's because Kozuki Sukiyaki Asahi Ken, has purple hair!"

"So Tama's true identity is... Yasuo's sister!"

"Ah?"

Yamato Yasuo, who was secretly eating his bento box, almost choked on the fish ball and couldn't catch his breath.

"What, Yasuo, do you have a problem with that?"

"Cough cough~"

Yasuo shoved the fish ball into his stomach and quickly said, "I must say, Teacher Ma, you're absolutely right! You truly are a media warrior; nothing in our family matters escapes your discerning eye!"

"You're pitiful too, always mistaken for an orphan."

Ma Qiao patted Yasuo on the shoulder, then spoke to the little white-haired boy inside the Lantern:

"Alright, let's go down, but watch your mouth, and whatever you do, don't tell Tama the cruel truth!"

"Because Tama herself was unaware of her true identity, Kozuki Sukiyaki took her under her wing and trained her."

"If Yasuo inherited his Eldest Son's Friend's Ashes Mixed into Rice, then Tama must shoulder the heavy responsibility of governing this country!"

"Simply put, Kozuki Yasuo is responsible for going out to sea and having fun, while Tama is destined to become [the Shogun's Woman] in Wano Country!"

What about me? What about me?

Yamato said anxiously, "What did I inherit from Oden? I'm going to become the man of Kozuki Oden!"

Ma Qiao tilted his head and thought for a moment, "Yamato, you'll probably inherit Kozuki Oden's filial piety..."

Gu~

Tama's stomach growled again.

She hasn't had a proper meal in many days.

Tama took out a small bamboo tube he always carried with him, which contained filtered water that his master had prepared for him.

Glug glug.

Tama drank water in large gulps, and the hunger in her stomach lessened slightly.

Thump!

Suddenly, a purple-haired samurai collapsed on the road.

"Sir Samurai, are you alright?"

Kind-hearted Tama quickly put down her basket and ran over to check.

"It's so hot!"

She touched the warrior's forehead with her small hand and found that it was burning hot.

After all, just a minute ago, Ma Qiao had scalded Yasuo's forehead with the broth of Oden; it would be strange if his forehead hadn't been burned.

"Doctor, I need to see a doctor!"

Yasuo opened his eyes with difficulty and said Exhaust.

To increase his credibility, he coughed forcefully.

"But I don't have any money... but saving lives is the most important thing..."

Tama gritted her teeth, wanting to carry Yasuo on her back.

However, how could her small body possibly carry an adult?

But Tama didn't give up and tried her best to drag Yasuo away.

Fortunately, at that moment, Tama's companion, a giant lion dog named Komachiyo, ran out of the woods.

Driven by its animalistic instincts, the giant lion dog sensed that Yasuo was no good person and began to bark at him incessantly.

"You mustn't be harsh with the patient!"

Tama criticized her pet in a childish voice.

The poodle reluctantly picked up Yasuo.

Tama rode her lion dog towards the town.

"I wonder if the doctor will agree to pay for the medical expenses with a straw hat..."

Tama felt uncertain and could only hope that she would meet a kind doctor.

"Toad oil, toad oil that cures all diseases!"

Just as Tama was feeling uneasy, she suddenly saw a merchant selling toad oil on a shoulder pole in the town's street.

In the folklore of Wano Country, toads are an important medicinal ingredient; their skin can be used to extract Bufotoxin, which is believed to cure all diseases.

Of course, most adults would scoff at such a statement.

There's no such thing as a cure-all medicine in the world!

"Toad oil is a complete scam!"

"Yes, if you're sick, you should see a proper doctor..."

"But regular doctors are too expensive. Maybe this guy's toad oil will work... after all, his toad looks quite unique..."

The crowd of onlookers whispered among themselves.

In the original story, when Usopp was infiltrating Wano Country, he disguised himself as a toad oil merchant.

But he was a complete fraud.

The toad oil he sells has no medicinal effects.

Toko grinned, hoping to use Usopp's toad oil—the toad oil that Usopp boasted could cure all diseases—to cure her father who was being executed. Wasn't that much more exciting than Kozuki Oden being boiled in oil?

Compared to Usopp's toad-wearing-on-his-heads look, Ma Qiao's portrayal of the toad oil merchant was far more dedicated.

He was sitting on a toad's head.

Actually, it wasn't Ma Qiao who was putting in the effort, but Tahm Kench, who was between his legs.

Poor Tahm Kench was brushing oil off his body while simultaneously trying to sell himself—a classic case of someone selling themselves and then helping others count the money.

Although Tahm Kench's image seemed convincing, no one spent money to buy this dirty-looking toad oil.

Just then, Tama forcefully dragged Yasuo into the crowd.

"Uncle, can I trade my toad oil for a straw hat?"

"I don't have any money on me, but the straw hats I knit are of very high quality!"

Seemingly to prove she wasn't lying, Tama took out a bamboo hat and handed it over.

Tom stuck out his tongue, rolled up his straw hat, and handed it to Ma Qiao.

"This is indeed a straw hat made with great care..."

Ma Qiao gently stroked it with his hand. "It's woven very tightly, and the small splinters on the bamboo strips have been carefully sanded clean..."

Xiaoyu was very happy to hear the uncle praise her straw hat.

"Then, can I trade it for toad oil that cures all diseases?"

The adults watching couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

This innocent and adorable little girl is about to be scammed by a shameless drug dealer.

But...

They glanced at the large, blue-faced, fanged toad that was playing a musical instrument with its tongue, and all wisely shut their mouths.

However, there was one person who didn't have such concerns.

Yamato, inside the Lantern, pouted and muttered, "What's the point of fooling a child? Her hands are so small; it would take her a long time to weave a straw hat."

"My toad oil is very precious too!"

"Tahm Kench eats only broccoli and fruit every day, gets his teeth cleaned once a week, and has his stomach pumped every two weeks. It's not easy for him to accumulate any fat..."

Ma Qiao smiled and quietly offered a few words of explanation to Yamato.

This big-breasted, brainless white-haired girl isn't entirely devoid of empathy.

If Oden's poison can be eliminated in time, he should still be able to get back on the right path.

With a smile, Ma Qiao crouched down, perched atop Tahm Kench's head, and said to Jade, "Of course, your hat is very beautiful."

"So how many straw hats would it take to exchange for the toad oil that can cure this gentleman?"

Tama silently rejoiced in her heart, thankfully, she hadn't sold a single straw hat today.

There were ten straw hats in the basket.

If the merchant uncle felt it wasn't enough, he could immediately return to the village to weave.

However, Ma Qiao's words left Tama stunned.

"To cure this purple-haired warrior, just one drop of toad oil is enough, but toad oil is sold in whole bottles and cannot be bought individually."

"Do we have to buy the whole bottle? Won't that be very expensive?" Tama, a little worried.

"Of course it's expensive! This is toad oil, a cure-all!"

Ma Qiao emphasized, "Even if you went to the Flower Capital, you wouldn't be able to buy such a miraculous medicine! However..."

Just as Tama was beginning to feel despair.

But Ma Qiao changed the subject. "But little girl, your straw hat is even more precious!"

"This is really a difficult situation..."

Ma Qiao weighed the bamboo hat in his hand, then put it on his head. "A bottle of toad oil can't buy such a fine hat. Looks like I'll have to add these things..."

As he spoke, Ma Qiao slapped Tahm Kench on the forehead, and Tahm Kench immediately vomited up a large bag of fresh ingredients packed in a box.

"My goodness! Such fresh food, completely uncontaminated!"

"It looks even better than the food specially supplied to officials!"

"That fake drug dealer must have made a lot of money, right?"

"But he's kind-hearted; he actually gave all the food to this little girl!"

The crowd of onlookers were abuzz with discussion, all surprised by the ingredients that Ma Qiao had brought out.

The vast majority of people were happy for Tama.

They might not know Tama's name, but many people remember the little girl who carried a basket to sell straw hats every morning.

If they had more money, they would have been willing to buy the little girl's straw hat.

Of course, some of them looked at Tama with a strange expression.

Fresh food and clean water are luxuries in Wano Country.

It's such a waste that such a helpless little girl is enjoying such good food!

Several thugs quietly disappeared into the crowd.

Ma Qiao didn't care what their motives were.

Tama was startled when she saw the mountain of food piled up in front of her.

She clenched her small Riot Games, her face very serious. "My master told me that I shouldn't take things from strangers!"

"This is payment for the straw hat, not some favor."

Ma Qiao jumped off Tahm Kench's head with a laugh, still holding the green Lantern in his hand.

"If you don't want food, I can give you something else, such as gold and silver jewelry."

"Then, then please give me some food..."

Xiaoyu thought for a moment and said, "There's enough food for all the residents of Amigasa Village to share. Uncle Merchant, would you like to join our feast?"

"Attending banquets... I never imagined I'd become a banquet expert..."

Ma Qiao gave a wry smile. Was he really going to have to distance himself from the prestigious identity of a shut-in?

He took out his Mobile Den Den Mushi and checked the time.

Only two hours had passed since Yamato's soul left his body.

Time seems to stand still in Wano Country.

No wonder King Luffy was able to learn Ryuo in just one day...

However, although there was still plenty of time, Ma Qiao decided to go back to Onigashima first to recharge Yamato's body, lest it really get too cold.

Ma Qiao glanced at Jax, Xin Zhao, Graves, who were mixed in with the crowd, and transmitted his voice:

"Be careful what you do later, don't scare the children."

The three guards each nodded slightly.

"You live in Amigasa Village, right?"

Ma Qiao squatted down, patted Tama's head, and stuffed the toad oil into her hand. "Uncle will go prepare some things and be back in a bit."

With that, he jumped onto Tahm Kench's head and headed out of town.

Watching Ma Qiao's departing figure, Tama tilted her head and said, "What a cute old man... Wait, did I forget something?"

Looking at the toad oil she was clutching tightly in her hand, she exclaimed, "Sir Samurai!"

Tama opened the bottle of toad oil with her small hands, pinched Yasuo's nose, and gulped it all down.