Chapter 53: Chapter 52
The department store was relatively quiet in the early afternoon on a weekday. Not that it was completely empty of people.
And where there were people, there were always those things.
Snap!
Zoro flicked his fingers, wrapped in Haki. A fly-like curse that had been buzzing around him turned to dust and disappeared.
"Is it because it's a weekday?"
There were unusually few curses today. During their shopping trip, they had only encountered two of these fly-like curses.
Technically, Zoro didn't need to bother with such minor curses, but he didn't like the idea of them getting too close to Megumi and Tsumiki.
Moreover,
"Why does it feel so unsettling?"
There seemed to be no threat when he scanned the area with Observation Haki. For a department store, it was unusually clean of curse energy.
So why did it feel so odd?
"…!"
Feeling like someone was watching, Zoro quickly turned his head.
Buzzing!
There were about ten of those fly-like curses buzzing around.
Just flies, huh. Zoro exhaled in disdain and flicked his fingers again.
Snap!
Several flies were hit by the impact, fell, and turned directly into dust. Megumi, who had been watching Zoro closely, also tried to flick his fingers towards the flies.
Of course, the flick of a 2-year-old boy's fingers, wrapped in neither Haki nor cursed energy, did no harm to the flies, which easily dodged Megumi's attempt.
"Eek!"
"That's not how you do it, Megumi."
This is how you do it. Zoro deliberately wrapped his bare hand slowly with Haki and demonstrated slowly in the air, showing him how.
Boom!
The flies burst into pieces without Zoro's fingers even touching them. Megumi opened his mouth in awe.
"...What are you two doing?"
Tsumiki, holding a black puppy plushie, came over and asked. Zoro naturally replied.
"There was something there. I caught it."
"Did Megumi catch it with you?"
"No. I was teaching him how to catch them."
Tsumiki cautiously looked at the space where the flies had been. Trying to find something in the air, the ceiling, and the floor, Tsumiki murmured with a downcast look.
"...I wish I could do that kind of thing with Megumi too."
Seeing Tsumiki's face darken, Zoro nonchalantly said.
"You can do it too. If you learn."
Tsumiki's eyes sparkled as she lifted her head.
"Really?! How?! Please teach me!"
"Later."
"Okay!"
Toji approached, carrying several paper bags filled with various items in both hands.
"We've bought everything we need on this floor. Now we just need to buy clothes for Zoro."
Toji had been buying clothes for Zoro almost every time they went shopping recently. The reason was simple: they didn't fit. Zoro was growing rapidly day by day, so clothes quickly became too small. Moreover, with his high level of activity and sweating, his clothes easily became worn out.
"The children's clothing store is... on the 3rd floor. We're on the 7th, right? Let's go down."
Zoro frowned without saying a word.
"Why."
"I have a bad feeling."
If asked why, he didn't exactly have an answer. But something felt off, and that feeling was getting stronger.
Toji also had been sensing something subtle since earlier, so he understood Zoro's point.
"Then let's go home early."
"Tha—"
—t's.
Whisk!
Before they could finish their sentence, Zoro and Toji's bodies instantly turned around. Tsumiki, not knowing the situation, blinked, and Megumi trembled with unease.
It was an unmistakably blatant presence of a Cursed Spirit.
'Not special class, but maybe first-class?'
Toji prepared to summon his weapon Cursed Spirit while using his Observation Haki to gauge the Cursed Spirit's class.
Still, the question remained.
'Until just now, there was no sign of it.'
A Cursed Spirit appearing suddenly like this? In October, not even during the summer when Cursed Spirit are more prevalent, and a first-class Cursed Spirit at that?
Zoro positioned himself protectively in front of Megumi and Tsumiki, gripping the handle of his sword Wado Ichimonji firmly. He then glanced at Toji.
"What should we do, Dad?"
Toji was conflicted.
For non-sorcerers, it was very fortunate that the Cursed Spirit was near an emergency exit where there were hardly any people. However, it was quickly moving towards them, seeking out people. It wasn't just any Cursed Spirit but a first-class one, too dangerous to ignore.
Zoro could probably handle a first-class Cursed Spirit to some extent, but Megumi and Tsumiki were a different story. It was impractical for Toji to take them all with him. It might be better to leave the kids here for their safety.
Toji made a decision, put down the paper bag full of items on the floor, and spat out his Arsenal Spirit, Uwak. Megumi's eyes widened as he saw the Arsenal Spirit inflate in size suddenly.
"I'll handle this. You guys stay here."
"Come back quickly."
"Alright."
"What's happening, mister?"
"Got something to take care of. Wait here."
After responding, Toji dashed towards the emergency exit with a speed that made him disappear from sight. Tsumiki looked around in confusion at the sudden disappearance of Toji.
"Mr. Toji is..."
"He'll be back soon."
Although Zoro replied, he sharply scanned the surroundings.
Something.
Something is off.
The whole situation.
Considering it's a weekday, the absence of curses until now, the appearance of a group of ten Cursed Spirit, the sudden emergence of a first-class Cursed Spirit, and Toji just having left the scene.
'Is it all just a coincidence?'
No.
—This is a trap.
Snap!
"Ah, we haven't paid for that yet!"
"There's no time."
Zoro ripped open the paper bag and found two new kitchen knives inside. He held one in his hand and secured the other along with his sword, Wado Ichimonji, to his belt. Normally, kitchen knives weren't meant for situations like this, but there was no choice.
Whoosh!
Power spread in all directions. Like ink spreading on white paper, the scenery around them changed in an instant.
"...!"
Zoro quickly pushed Tsumiki and Megumi away. A giant pillar rose from where Tsumiki and Megumi had just been standing.
All lights and sources of illumination disappeared, and pitch-black darkness enveloped everything, climbing up the walls and ceiling. Soon, it was impossible to distinguish where the walls ended and the ceiling began, as everything was buried in perfect darkness.
'The space is closing off.'
"Zoro!"
"Eek!"
"Stay there, both of you!"
When surveyed with Observation Haki, Tsumiki and Megumi were separated from Zoro and trapped in a different space, but they were safe for now.
The hairs on Zoro's arms stood on end. It was unpleasant and suffocating. Something inside him was boiling over, making him feel like he couldn't endure without slashing something.
It wasn't the fear or discomfort caused by the darkness. Something more fundamental was being touched, making him want to unleash something.
Zoro looked up at the ceiling that seemed to bulge outwards, then dropped something massive to the floor as if spitting it out. It was a Cursed Spirit.
The Cursed Spirit, which had been curled up, slowly unfolded and stood up on two legs. It looked more human-like than any other Cursed Spirit Zoro had sensed before. It had one head at the top, two arms and legs, and walked bipedally.
And in the middle of its head, there was something embedded that concentrated power.
'This one is clearly more powerful than the one father chased earlier.'
Moreover, with the space divided, it was uncertain when Toji would return, or if he could return at all.
"...This is bad."
Realizing the situation, Zoro let out a groan.
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