"Here, take a lick of this!"
Vic took out a big lollipop and placed it near Chopper's mouth; the sweet taste instantly filled Chopper's nostrils.
Chopper's sense of smell is many times more sensitive than a human's, and this smell was very attractive to him. He unconsciously stuck out his tongue and licked it, and once he started, he couldn't stop. However, Vic didn't let him lick it any longer and took it back immediately.
Chopper had licked his lollipop until his eyes were squinted, looking very pleased, but he soon stopped tasting the sweet flavor. His little tongue swept through the air several times, but he still didn't get the taste he had been looking forward to. Chopper opened his eyes in confusion, but he didn't see the lollipop he had been longing for.
"Hehe! Take your time, one bite of Devil Fruit followed by one bite of candy, you have to finish all the Devil Fruit, that's what I did!"
Vic held the half-eaten Human-Human Fruit to Chopper's mouth. Chopper looked a little disgusted and didn't want to open his mouth, but when he saw the lollipop in Vic's other hand, he gave in.
By this time, the Human-Human Fruit had taken effect, Chopper's intelligence had greatly improved, so he naturally understood Vic's meaning.
And so, Vic fed Chopper the entire Human-Human Fruit with a bite of Devil Fruit and a bite of candy, just as he had done before, Chopper naturally couldn't be left out.
The Human-Human Fruit was finished, but there was still no candy. Vic handed the lollipop to Chopper, Chopper naturally stretched out his little paws and grabbed the lollipop stick. Then he sat up and happily licked it. The recovery ability of Zoan is pretty good; he can sit up now.
Afterwards, Vic took out a basket of fruit and placed it in the tree hole, which could also serve as Chopper's temporary shelter. Chopper was now practically a person dressed as a reindeer.
" Blue Nose, now you can understand me perfectly, right? Nod if you do."
Chopper now possesses human-like thinking, so he should have no problem surviving in the wild. Vic is now preparing to teach him to speak, and once Chopper learns to speak, he will have all the resources to change himself.
Chopper didn't react immediately to Vic's words, too engrossed in licking Vic lollipop to hear clearly. Vic asked again before Chopper nodded, Chopper eyes now even more lively than before.
"Alright, I'll start teaching you to speak human language from today onwards. You'd better study hard!" Vic continued, Chopper immediately nodded in agreement.
So Vic started teaching Chopper to speak, and not just to speak, but also to write the corresponding characters, so that Dr. Chopper could recognize words.
Chopper learns very quickly. Although he can't remember things at a glance like Vic, he can learn them after a few tries.
Vic would demonstrate the pronunciation of each word to Chopper. Because it was a language-to-word teaching method, once Chopper could read it, he would recognize the corresponding word. This was much easier than drawing on a blank sheet of paper.
In addition, the Human-Human Fruit greatly enhances his mental abilities, so Chopper was soon able to have normal conversations with Vic, although his speech was very immature, much like a human child just learning to speak.
Two days passed quickly. Vic went back to check on Wendy every night, but she still hadn't woken up. Kureha checked on her carefully and said that Wendy could wake up at any time and that her body had fully recovered. Only then was Vic completely relieved. He then spent his nights practicing and his days teaching Chopper.
In the forest at dusk, in a hollow of a tall tree, Vic left some bread and fruit.
" Blue Nose, that's all for today. Your injury is much better, but don't go out now. I'll come back tomorrow!"
Vic didn't stay with Chopper all the time. He would go back to Kureha's place every night to check if Wendy had woken up before finding a place to train.
" Vic, why do you always call me Blue Nose? Is that my name?"
Vic had told Chopper his name, but Vic always called him Blue Nose, and Chopper didn't quite understand the difference between the two.
"No, Blue Nose isn't your name, it's just what I call you, because your Blue Nose is the most distinctive feature!" Vic said, then jumped out of the tree hole. Chopper was already used to Vic's way of interacting.
Chopper was actually hoping that Vic would give him a name, but Vic didn't offer to name him, and he didn't ask for one either.
Vic quickly arrived at Kureha's treehouse, dragging a polar bear carcass on his back. He had encountered it on the way back, and he had been hunting animals along the way to give to Kureha.
" Vic, you're finally back. The little girl has woken up; she keeps asking where you are. Your relationship must be something special, right?"
Dr. Tsukimi opened the door and, upon seeing Vic, gave him some good news with an ambiguous expression. Vic didn't explain anything and quickly walked past Dr. Tsukimi inside.
"Their relationship is definitely unusual, he's so concerned about her safety! Hehe," Dr. Tsukimi muttered with a grin.
" Wendy! You're finally awake! I almost thought I'd run into a quack doctor and was ready to kill her tomorrow, but thankfully you woke up in time and saved her life!" Vic sat down in front of Wendy's bed and smiled.
" Vic, stop joking. It was Dr. Kureha who saved my life."
Dr. Kureha told me that I almost didn't make it back; it was you who brought me here in time.
Vic, thank you so much! You're my savior!
Wendy was awake, but not fully recovered. She was still lying in bed, her eyes filled with tears as she looked at Vic.
Kureha she woke up, Kureha told her some things, and then Dr. Tsukimi recounted what had happened since Vic arrived on the island. Combining this with what happened before she fell into a coma, her gratitude towards Vic was beyond words.
If Wendy knew what happened at sea on her way here, she might really think that God was determined to take her away.
"I promised everyone I'd bring you back safe and sound, and I can't go back on my word!" Vic said nonchalantly.
Hearing Vic say that warmed Wendy's heart, but the thought of what she was about to tell Vic made her heart clench. She felt she owed Vic so much and had no idea how to repay him.
" Vic, I can't ignore what you said. That matter in the future won't be easy for you!"
Kureha was fiddling with her medicine jar not far away. She naturally heard Vic say he was going to kill her. Vic smiled but didn't say anything more.
" Vic! What did you promise Dr. Kureha?" Wendy knew from Kureha's words what Vic had promised to save her, and asked nervously.
"It's nothing! I just lent a hand to her stupid son once, it's no big deal."
Vic felt that by then he wouldn't be any weaker than Red-Hair, right? What couldn't Four Emperors- level powerhouse handle?