Dr. Hiriluk consumed the mushroom out of profound appreciation and love for Tony Tony Chopper, who presented it to him with the sincere belief that it would cure his illness.
Hiriluk, a compassionate doctor known for his unique approach to medicine, was deeply touched by Chopper's genuine concern for his health. Despite the mushroom being poisonous, he chose to eat it as an act of accepting Chopper's heartfelt gesture.
The Misunderstanding Behind Chopper's Gift
Chopper, an intelligent yet naive reindeer, made a critical error in identifying the mushroom's properties. This misunderstanding stemmed from two key factors:
- Symbolic Interpretation: Hiriluk often referred to the Jolly Roger flag (the skull and crossbones symbol) as a "symbol of vitality" or "proof of conviction," representing the spirit of piracy and freedom. Chopper, taking this literally, mistakenly associated the skull and crossbones depicted on the mushroom (or in the medical book he consulted) with this positive meaning, believing it signified a powerful, life-giving medicine.
- Lack of Medical Knowledge: At that time, Chopper's medical knowledge was still developing. He did not realize that the skull and crossbones symbol, in the context of medicine or pharmacology, universally indicates poison or danger, not vitality.
Essentially, Chopper saw the symbol and interpreted it through the lens of Hiriluk's optimistic philosophy, rather than its literal medical warning. Hiriluk, understanding Chopper's pure intentions and the effort he went through to find what he believed was a cure, chose to accept the "medicine" out of love, fully aware of its fatal nature. This act underscored Hiriluk's deep affection for Chopper and his self-sacrificing nature.
